. Korea missile aimed at area off Hawaii - report

[Roon]

TOKYO (Reuters) - A North Korean missile launched on Wednesday was aimed at an area of the ocean close to Hawaii, a Japanese newspaper reported on Friday.
Experts estimated the Taepodong-2 ballistic missile to have a range of up to 6,000 km, putting Alaska within its reach. Wednesday's launch apparently failed shortly after take-off and the missile landed in the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan, a few hundred kilometres from the launch pad.

But data from U.S. and Japanese Aegis radar-equipped destroyers and surveillance aircraft on the missile's angle of take-off and altitude indicated that it was heading for waters near Hawaii, the Sankei Shimbun reported, citing multiple sources in the United States and Japan.

North Korea may have targeted Hawaii to show the United States that it was capable of landing a missile there, or because it is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific fleet, the paper said.
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060707/3/2mty8.html

[Deja Q]

1. How long before the anti-gay folks chime in on this one?

[Rosco T.]

3. Torchwood, eh???

explains a lot..

[Deja Q]

4. It does?

I had no idea I had it in me! :7

[magellan]

2. How many will have to die

...before the neo-ninCONpoops' "We're bigger than you so we don't have to negotiate" strategy is recognized as a FAILED foreign policy?

[Deja Q]

5. They will survive.

Those who don't agree (something like 65%) will be exterminated.

There is no problem.

[Truthiness Inspector]

9. What is the solution?

Bushco has been in six party talks along with Japan, South Korea, China, and Russia. They haven't fired back yet since the launching of the missiles.

Do they continue talks (negotiate) or launch missiles themselves?

(I don't know what the solution is, but this seems like a damned if you, damned if you don't proposition.)

[Deja Q]

10. A no-win scenario.

Just what Bush wants for his legacy, but he's been doing the cajoling.

And who's gonna remember him for it?

[magellan]

21. N. Korea was close to agreeing

...to stop weapons production back in 2000. That was due to talks Clinton was involved in. When BushCo came into office those talks ended and the door was slammed shut on Kim.

Now there's no way of telling if N. Korea would have honored any arrangement if negotiations had continued...but Kim is renowned for throwing a tantrum only when he feels neglected by the US. I think most people would rather be damned with a fruit loop of a N. Korean leader who's quietly behaving himself in return a bit of aid from us, than one who's sticking nukes on scuds and intercontinental missiles to get our attention, don't you?

[Pavulon]

6. If this was 1970 and that came from the ussr

that act would have started a thermonuclear war. kim jung il is playing with the lives of millions by firing ballistic missiles at us territories.

If this was true and that weapon had not destroyed its self that could have led to a us counter launch of armed missiles.

Sitting down over dinner will not fix this problem. This is not a negotiation problem.

That launch was dangerous and a gross provocation to the US and Japan. We have not fired missiles at N. Korea.

[cigsandcoffee]

7. Are you suggesting we attack them?

I may have misinterpreted, and if so then I apologize.

[Pavulon]

13. No

But firing a ballistic missile allows the target to see it coming. It would have a 20 some minute flight time. If that missile had been predicted to land on us territory, that would have triggered a response.

That could have ranged from an intercept to a full blown launch of minuteman and slbm nuclear icbms.

That act is like pointing a gun at someone who also has a gun pointed at you. Firing a blank round at a man with a dead eye is insane.

He could have gotten a nuclear response.

IF this is true that was an insane act.

[Deja Q]

8. I agree. NK is provoking this and they have spoken up in the past.

Using Bush's own words, which should be speaking a mouthful... but, to my knowledge, the US isn't pointing nuclear missiles anywhere at this time - do correct me if I'm wrong.


Best of all, it's a provocation to China as well; even if they're too bloody stupid to understand it right now; if one of those Ding Dong missles malfunctions in flight (and that's already happened), guess who's underneath it? C-H-I-N-A. They ought to be concerned too. I wonder why they are not...

[cigsandcoffee]

12. I'd guess that China is very concerned

But they're usually a bit subtle in their responses. They walk softly and carry a big stick.

[Deja Q]

15. A stick we were all too happy to finance for them.

Which, amongst other things, renders the Vietnam War utterly pointless. :( After all, it was China who funded Vietnam and the Viet Cong, as I recall...

But then, communism is an enemy only when we want it to be.

[Pavulon]

14. IF this is true

it is because they are insane. It is insane to fire a ballistic missile near a nation with hundreds of armed missiles that can be target and fired in minutes.

We do not pre-target but the package is set. It would take minutes for minot to target and fire their weapons in a response. I would assume at least 3 ohio class subs are in the area and could fire in minutes.

If this is true it is very troubling. Firing at or near the US is an act of war and could have led to a horrible chain of events.

[Deja Q]

16. Agreed. NK's ruler has shown himself to be quite the nutter in the past.

But still. Other people who claim insanity don't get a free pardon.

Why should he?

And the chain of events would be horrible indeed.

[Pavulon]

18. There is no one walking free

who (IF and a big fat if) this is true, came that close to provoking megadeath. This (if true) is the most significant military act in 40 years.

Nikita Kruschev was not insane, he did not fire missiles at us.

[Rainscents]

11. NK is blowing smoke Bush's ass

All they want is some rice.;-)

[tyedyeto]

17. The closer it is to the US

the sooner we can can laumch a pre-emptive strike. If this gets those watching Faux news all worked up, those who watch will think we are being attacked again, so why not sritke first? It's all in the 'game plan' of the Pentagon, even if the facts don't add up.

[Pavulon]

If we did not launch

when it was in the air predicted towards conus we aren't launching now.

If this is true it is truly insane.

[Pavulon]

19. Coultered(DP)deleted post

[SPKrazy]

20. The Missile Didn't Even Fly Though

it's hard to say that it was "aimed" at US territory when it obviously isn't capable of flying?

or was it really just a malfunction?

if so, then it was an insane act of aggression