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June 15, 2006
US Warns N Korea On Missile Test
North Korea's missiles are based on Scud technology.
Last Updated: Wednesday, 14 June 2006 - 11:51 GMT - 12:51 UK
By Charles Scanlon - BBC News, Seoul
The United States has warned it will respond if North Korea goes ahead with a test launch of a new inter-continental ballistic missile.
South Korea also called on the North to halt preparations for a test, saying it would damage regional security.
North Korea last tested a long-range missile in 1998 but it warned last year that it was calling off a self-imposed moratorium on further tests.
The US and Seoul are expressing growing concern about the North's intentions.
The US ambassador to Seoul, Alexander Vershbow, said Washington would respond to a missile test with what he called "appropriate measures".
He told a local radio station that the North's missile technology was a threat to the international community, as well as to north-east Asia.
Diplomats say North Korea has been preparing a possible launch of its new Taepodong 2 missile, which is estimated to have a range of 6,000km (3,500 miles) and to be capable of hitting parts of the United States.
Deadlock
South Korea's Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon also called on the North to halt its preparations. He said a test would seriously damage efforts to resolve the confrontation over the North's nuclear weapons programme.
The diplomatic process has been stalled since last year, when North Korea pulled out of the talks citing American financial pressure.
North Korea may be using the missile threat to try to break the deadlock. Its demands have been largely ignored while Washington has focused on the nuclear challenge from Iran.
Analysts say North Korea already has enough plutonium for about eight nuclear bombs.
It will be much harder to ignore if it can demonstrate a successful delivery system as well.
Wild Thing's comment......
Kim Jong is dangerous and we should never bow down to anyone. We are the most powerful Nation in the world!
Keep the heat on this creep Kim Jong !
Posted by Wild Thing at June 15, 2006 01:55 AM
Comments
Of course, what's hilarious about the photo that goes with the article is that it's from the South Korean War Memorial Museum - the tall missile on the left is a Nike Hercules air defense missile, US-built, supplied to South Korea, as is the similar-looking missile at an angle in the background. The little missile in the background is a Lance missile (another US missile used by South Korea, that one a tactical battlefield weapon) and the three white missiles in the lower left are HAWK (Homing All-the-way Killers) missiles... another US-built air defense missile used by South Korea.
That leaves one, there on the right.
Wait for it.
*That* one *is* a SCUD.
One of Saddam's, captured during Gulf I, a gift from us to the South Koreans.
Snerk.
In a sense, it's a pretty misleading pic for BBC to use with such a sparse caption!
Posted by: John of Argghhh! at June 17, 2006 07:26 PM
Oh my gosh that is so funny that they would do that. I am so glad you know about that thank you for telling me. This is amazing!!
Thanks again!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 17, 2006 07:39 PM
Interesting isn't it. Draws our attention away from everything else. Whatever it takes.
Posted by: krwz at June 23, 2006 02:04 AM
