Blog: Dermot Cole
Korean missile and Alaska
Published Thursday, March 26, 2009
So if the North Koreans launch a ballistic missile in early April, as U.S. officials are predicting, will one or more of the anti-missile missiles be launched from Fort Greely to try to shoot it down?
The published reports I've seen say the chances are slim that it will play out that way, but there is nothing definitive.
The North Koreans claim it will be an attempt to launch a satellite, but U.S. analysts think an attempt to test a ballistic missile is in the offing.
The rocket has been placed on the launchpad, according to news reports today.
"Some American officials, including Adm. Timothy Keating, the head of the United States Pacific Command, have said that the United States has the capability to shoot down any North Korean missile heading for American territory," the New York Times reported today.
"But such an intercept is highly unlikely, according to experts in Seoul, in part because Washington is trying to win the release of two American television journalists recently detained by North Korea. The North has charged them with illegally crossing the Chinese-North Korean border."
This is from the Korea Times today http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/03/113_42065.html
There are a number of things the North Koreans have to do to be a threat to the USA. First, they have to build a warhead that is light enough to be carried by a missile. Since they've barely been able to make a crude device, much less a sophisticated one, we have little reason to be concerned.
Second, their missile program has not produced much in the way of long range missiles much less ones that could reliably carry a large payload.
Third, the USA has technical means that we can employ to ensure a launch failure if needed.
Forth- the North Koreans would have to be suicidal to take on the USA with advanced weaponry. The nut job- "Dear Leader" Kim Jong Il (who got his job from his Daddy just like Lisa did) enjoys his affluent lifestyle. While North Koreans starve Kim Jong Il enjoys watching porn flicks of blond Swedish girls in his mansions.
He's got it good, and he aint gonna screw it up by having the US drop cruise missiles on his sorry ass.
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