Foreign Correspondence

[fuagf]

U.S. may be within N. Korea missile range in 3 years, official warns


President Obama and his South Korean counterpart, Lee Myung-bak, in Washington.
Obama said he would end the cycle of North Korea provoking crises to seek aid.

The West Coast may be vulnerable to an attack, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
says. However, North Korea is unlikely to be able to develop a nuclear warhead by then.

By Julian E. Barnes
June 17, 2009

Reporting from Washington -- North Korea may be able to overcome technical difficulties and assemble
a missile capable of hitting West Coast cities within three years, a top Defense Department official
said Tuesday, but it is unlikely to be able to deliver a nuclear warhead in that time frame.

The U.S. assessment came as North Korea's rulers show signs of preparing for additional
weapons tests in the face of international condemnation and new United Nations sanctions.

The estimate of three to five years was provided in congressional testimony
by Marine Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,....
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-north-korea-missiles17-2009jun17,0,6469747.story
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A look at North Korea's missile arsenal
By The Associated Press – 1 day ago

TAEPODONG: This group of rockets is the pinnacle of North Korea's missile
technology. Pyongyang claims they are space launch vehicles (SLVs) to launch satellites
as part of a peaceful space program. Satellite and missile technologies are interchangeable.

_ ADVANCED TAEPODONG-2: Under development. Potential range: about 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers),
putting the U.S. west coast, Hawaii, Australia and eastern Europe within striking distance.

_ TAEPODONG-2: Three-stage rocket with potential range of more than 4,100 miles (6,700 kilometers), putting Alaska within striking distance. First two stages are liquid-fueled, while the third is believed to be solid-fueled. Iranian engineers are thought to have observed a 2006 launch that fizzled soon after liftoff. Cooperation with Iran has been extensive; Iran's Safir-Omid space launch vehicle owes much to the Taepodong.

_ TAEPODONG-1: Estimated range of 1,550 miles (2,500 kilometers), twice as far as earlier Rodong missile, according to South Korea. North is believed to have test-launched the missile in August 1998. Launch shocked the world because it was well beyond North Korea's known capability at the time. Both lower stages are liquid-fueled, with a potential solid-fuel third stage. Payload is thought to be about 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms). Accuracy is believed poor, with no meaningful strike capability.

NEW MISSILE: North Korea has fielded a new intermediate range ballistic missile, according to South Korea's Defense Ministry. With a range of 1,800 miles (3,000 kilometers), it would almost reach Guam. Much of China and parts of Russia and the Philippines are also within striking range. North Korea reportedly used Russian SS-N-6 submarine-launched ballistic missile technology for the mobile, land-based missile. It reportedly is liquid-fueled with one or two stages. Some reports say North Korea put the new missile on display during a 2007 military parade. Accuracy is unknown.

RODONG: Japan is the likely target of this short-range missile. Rodong is almost identical to Iran's Shahab-3 and Pakistan's Ghauri II (Hatf V), the strongest evidence of the countries' collaboration and of North Korean sale of technology and missile equipment to others. All three countries continue to refine the design. Estimated range of 620 to 930 miles (1,000 to 1,500 kilometers) and maximum payload of 2,200 pounds (1,000 kilograms). They are single-stage, liquid-fuel missiles on mobile launchers. Most have fairly poor accuracy, though some may have been fitted with warhead separation and more modern guidance systems.

SCUD: Single stage, liquid-fueled missile with a range of up to 500 miles (800 kilometers). Known in North Korea by the name Hwasong, the SCUD B and SCUD C can reach only South Korea, but the SCUD D could target Japan. Accuracy is extremely poor. Ballistic missile programs in Pakistan and Iran were built on SCUD technology.

Sources: STRATFOR global intelligence, South Korea's Defense Ministry,
with reporting by Carley Petesch in New York and Jae-soon Chang in Seoul.

(This version CORRECTS size of payload for Taepodong-1.)
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gaKLKWeiS0G-fs2dlJmCZCEwZUqwD997EGJG0
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In light of a time frame of 3-5 years .. in light of how it could be read and exploited
by N Korea .. in light of the expense involved .. it feels fair to question the cost of ...

N. Korea Slams Hawaii Missile Defenses
SEOUL, South Korea, June 29, 2009

Regime Claims Deployment Of Defenses Shows U.S. Plotting To Strike, Pyongyang To Bolster Nuke Arsenal In Response

* Fast Facts North Korea .. Learn about the people, economy and history.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/04/country_facts/main3328904.shtml?tag=related

* Interactive N. Korea: Tests And Threats .. Follow recent events and learn about this secretive nation's nuclear capabilities.
http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/koreas/framesource_nkorea_home.html?tag=related

* North Korea A "Stumbling Block" To Peace
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/26/world/main5116595.shtml?source=related_story&tag=related

* N. Korea Warns Of Nuclear "Fire Shower"
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/25/world/main5111829.shtml?source=related_story&tag=related

(CBS/AP) North Korea criticized the U.S. on Monday for positioning missile defense systems around Hawaii,
calling the deployment part of a plot to attack the regime and saying it would bolster its nuclear arsenal in retaliation.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he ordered the deployment of a ground-based, mobile missile intercept system
and radar system to Hawaii amid concerns the North may fire a long-range missile toward the islands, about 4,500 miles away.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/29/world/main5120562.shtml

NOW .. why do it now? .. except for ...