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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| New North Korean Missile Bases Target US Military In Japan |
| 2006-08-04 |
| North Korea has been building new underground missile bases along its east coast, targeting Japan and US military facilities in Japan, a report said Thursday. Some 200 Rodong missiles with a range of up to 2,200 kilometers (1,360 miles) and 50 SSN-6 missiles with ranges of 2,500 to 4,000 kilometers are at the new bases, the state-run Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security (IFANS) said in the report carried by Yonhap news agency. "The new bases clustered along the east coastal line are for medium- and long-range missiles targeting Japan and US military bases in Japan," read the report by Yun Deok-Min, an IFANS arms control expert. "Combined with its nuclear weapons, North Korea's ballistic missiles provides it with a powerful deterrent." North Korea has also constructed new underground missile bases deep in mountains near its border with China, to avoid outside attacks, it said. The communist nation set off new alarm bells in the region with its July 5 test-firing of seven ballistic missiles which splashed in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). In 1998, it test-launched a missile over Japan. The UN Security Council unanimously condemned the latest missile tests and adopted a resolution imposing weapons-related sanctions on Pyongyang. North Korea is said to have a large stockpile of short-range Scuds and medium-range Rodong missiles. It has also tested long-range Taepodong missiles which are in theory capable of hitting US soil. Sales of missiles and missile technology were believed to be a main source of hard currency for impoverished North Korea, the report said. North Korea has earned 150 million dollars a year from its missile business, according to the report which cited no sources. Pyongyang has allegedly sold a total of 500 Scuds to Iran, Libya, Syria, Egypt, and Yemen; a small number of Scuds also to Vietnam and Sudan; and 50-100 Rodong missiles to Iran, Pakistan and Libya, it added. A Scud missile is said to sell for two million dollars, a Rodong for four million dollars, and a Taepodong-2, the most advanced type, is expected to sell at around 20 million dollars, it said. Nort Korea is locked in a standoff with the United States and its allies over its nuclear weapons development which Pyongyang says is for self-defense. Pyongyang's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Thursday warned against Japan's recent US-backed military buildup which it said "is aimed to mount a preemptive attack" on North Korea. "The Japanese reactionaries had better behave with discretion, bearing in mind that reinvasion of Korea is as foolish an act as jumping into fire with (a) faggot on one's back," Rodong said. Japan invaded Korea in 1910 and occupied it until the end of World War II in 1945. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #9 The launch structures and support facilities (e.g. fuel tanks) will last about 1 hour. The missile storage facilities, 1 hour 10 minutes. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-08-04 17:18 |
| #8 It is just about time to pull Kim Jong-Mentally_ill's chain permanently. He has chewed through the restraining straps. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2006-08-04 16:10 |
| #7 I like Zen's ideas too. But also once a real prescence is established and indutry and infrastructure put in place, further launches become cheaper and easier. You could launch any damn thing from the moon with very little fuel. Maybe come back with a big hunk of Nickel or something else useful. |
| Posted by: J. D. Lux 2006-08-04 15:52 |
| #6 A permanent moon base is justified solely by the critical need to counteract an unexpected asteroid strike's adverse consequences upon humanity's continuation. The military benefits are just so much exceptionally tasty and ultra-delicious icing on the cake. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-08-04 15:43 |
| #5 So right OP. High ground. |
| Posted by: J. D. Lux 2006-08-04 15:37 |
| #4 Three mag-lev launchers on the moon could take out the entire country of North Korea without a single nuke warhead being used. We really, REALLY need to go back to the moon, and stay there. Both China and NK would be totally screwed, and both the house of Saud and the sh$%%y bunch of mullahs in Iran would see hundreds of heads explode. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2006-08-04 15:34 |
| #3 You'd think that North Korea's principal sponsor, those ever-lovin' Chinese Mardarins, would have reined in this sort of bellicose activity. How fitting that their lack of restraint will most likely lead to a nuclear-armed Japan. Few things could be more fitting. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-08-04 15:12 |
| #2 Missile manufacture has been keeping the country functioning. This is exactly the type news Japan needs. This is why they've put up a second much more capable recon satellite documneting these locations and other critical points. I suspect Japan is moving much more quickly in a quiet fashion than anyone realizes. This time I don't think they'll occupy, just destroy and be done with it. Too bad, your populace has already suffered considerably. |
| Posted by: SOP35/Rat 2006-08-04 11:36 |
| #1 Oh go ahead. Please. Give our Patriot missiles a chance to knock your silly scuds out of the air and give us a cassi belli. Please. I dare ya. I double dare ya. Pussy. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-08-04 09:41 |