Sources in S Korea are claiming that N Korea is preparing to launch a new, long range rocket. A launch would almost certainly be viewed by the international community as a disguised ballistic missile test and result in the imposition of fresh sanctions. It is thought that the launch might take place on Oct 10 which would mark the 70th anniversary of the Workers' Party
According to the Yonhap [News Agency] source, North Korea has completed work on an extended 67-metre (220-foot) gantry capable of handling a rocket twice the size of the 30-metre Unha-3 rocket launched in December, 2012.
The Unha-3 launch was widely condemned overseas as a ballistic missile test and triggered additional UN sanctions.
North Korea, which insisted the launch was purely scientific in nature, responded three months later by conducting [its] third nuclear test—the most powerful to date.
North Korea is banned under UN Security Council resolutions from carrying out any launch using ballistic missile technology, although repeated small-range missile tests have gone unpunished.
The upgrading of facilities at the Sohae launch centre have been closely monitored by satellite imagery analysts at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University.
In a recent report, the institute estimated that an October 10 launch would be "difficult although not impossible".
(Score: 3, Insightful) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Thursday July 23 2015, @10:30PM
... self-defense.
How many missiles do the US and South Korea have?
Not just on land but at sea.
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(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 23 2015, @10:43PM
I agree; these are long-range, though. Not much use for long-range self defense. It is not like they are going to wait to fire until they see the white's of their imperial oppressor's eyes, as compared to other "long-range self defense" (ie, guns).
I have to think that this is telescopic sabre rattling, as a means of saying that even if we get smashed into oblivion, we can ruin someone's day prior to that happening.
I'd have to think they'd have a freakout (more so than already...) if they didn't have the ocean to send things into. No one wants any kind of foreign government missile tests over their borders.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by takyon on Thursday July 23 2015, @11:20PM
Playing devil's advocate (as you'd have to be to defend North Korea), mutually assured destruction was a long-range self defense strategy.
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(Score: 3, Interesting) by Grishnakh on Friday July 24 2015, @12:24AM
It's a double standard, and a well deserved one. The US and South Korea have never threatened to invade North Korea and seize their land. The reverse is not true: North Korea's stated ambition is to re-take the South.
When someone is a blatant aggressor like that, it's entirely justified to hold them to a different standard.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 24 2015, @09:36AM
The US may have never threatened to invade North Korea; but it sure does invade countries on a regular basis; for that alone the double standard should apply negatively towards the US instead of North Korea.
In addition, the US is the only nation that has actually actively used all weapons that you can find on the UN, using this weapon is considered a war crime, list. (With active I mean, aimed and fired it at civilians)
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Saturday July 25 2015, @02:17AM
The US may have never threatened to invade North Korea; but it sure does invade countries on a regular basis; for that alone the double standard should apply negatively towards the US instead of North Korea.
Wrong and irrelevant. There's no way the US would invade North Korea with China next door. Even during the Korean War, China was involved heavily, but these days China is much more powerful than it was in the 50s, and they really don't want the US pushing its weight around in their back yard.
Also, NK has no oil, so I have no idea what you think the US would stand to gain by invading NK. They have no resources to speak of, they're just a pain in the ass.