North Korea 'preparing separate missile launch' as pressure mounts over satellite plans

[Dr Frook]

Good grief... why more North Korea do things like this? *sad face*

North Korea may be preparing a ballistic missile launch from a base on its east coast in addition to its announced plans to fire a space rocket, according to Japan's public broadcaster NHK.

NHK television, citing diplomatic sources it did not identify, reported that it had been "confirmed that a mobile launch pad in North Korea's eastern coastal area was on the move".

As a ballistic missile is on the launch pad, it is possible that Pyongyang is preparing a launch there, the report added. NHK did not say whether it was a long or short-range missile.

Pyongyang confirmed that it would launch a rocket from its Tongchang-ri base in the country's north-west between February 8 and 25.

The announcement on Tuesday was greeted by a global chorus of anger and concern, with sharp criticism from South Korea, Japan and the United States, already angry over the North's fourth nuclear test early last month.

China, which dispatched a top official to North Korea this week, echoed the international concerns while Japan has vowed to shoot down any missile that threatened its territory.

US Defence Secretary Ash Carter said the US military was keeping a vigilant eye on North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, and was continually expanding its defences against a possible missile attack by Pyongyang.

UN resolutions forbid North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology.

International sanctions were tightened after North Korea successfully placed a satellite in orbit on a three-stage Unha-3 rocket in December 2012.

A fresh launch poses a dilemma for the international community, which is already divided on how to punish the North for its January 6 nuclear test.

Pyongyang insists its space program is purely scientific in nature, but the United States and its allies insist such launches are aimed at developing an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of striking the US mainland.

[BluesDotEXE]

God damnit, this again?

[Dr Frook]

the end is nigh.

North Korea's planned launch of a long-range rocket could happen within a matter of hours, after Pyongyang shortened and brought forward the start of the launch window to Sunday.

Key points:
•Launch of North Korean long-range rocket scheduled to now take place between February 7 and 14
•Initial window had been between February 8 and 25
•US says North Korea could be ready to launch by the Super Bowl kickoff

An updated notification sent by Pyongyang to UN agencies on Saturday — a copy of which was released by the South Korean Government — said the launch would now take place between February 7 and 14.

The initial window announced by the North on Tuesday had been February 8-25.

The planned launch has been condemned by the international community as a disguised ballistic missile test that amounts to another serious violation of UN resolution, following the North's nuclear test last month.

The updated notice sent by Pyongyang offered no reason for the date change, which means the launch would now take place before the February 16 birthday of late leader Kim Jong-il, the father of current leader Kim Jong-un.

There was no amendment to the 7:00am to midday (9:30am to 2:30pm AEDT) daily window.

The North has insisted its space program is purely scientific in nature, but the United States and allies, including South Korea, have said its rocket launches were aimed at developing an inter-continental ballistic missile capable of striking the US mainland.

UN sanctions prohibit North Korea from any launch using ballistic missile technology.

The new time frame came amid rising expectations that a launch was likely to happen soon, with US government sources on Friday saying North Korea could be ready by the US Super Bowl kickoff on Sunday, which will be Monday in Korea.

Satellite images taken this week of North Korea's Sohae rocket launch site showed apparent fuelling activity seen in the past shortly before a rocket launch, said Washington-based 38 North, a North Korea-monitoring project.

On Friday, US President Barack Obama spoke by telephone with President Xi Jinping of China, North Korea's main ally and neighbour, and agreed that a North Korean launch would represent a "provocative and destabilising action", the White House said.

Mr Obama and Mr Xi also said they would coordinate efforts to respond to North Korea's nuclear test last month and said they would not accept North Korea as a nuclear weapon state.

"The leaders emphasised the importance of a strong and united international response to North Korea's provocations, including through an impactful UN Security Council Resolution," the White House said.

The United States and China have appeared divided over how to respond to North Korea, with Washington urging tougher sanctions and Beijing stressing the need for dialogue.

Japan has said it would shoot down the rocket if it threatened the country, and on Saturday accelerated the deployment of two additional PAC-3 missile units in response to the revised launch time frame, a Japanese defence ministry official said.

North Korea last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, sending into orbit an object it described as a communications satellite.

[Flobalob]

They launched it. "It" being a "satellite". Basically, it's not a satellite, it's a hump of junk they don't need which is similar in shape and form to an ICBM, suggesting that they're merely testing if they can fire one or not without actually firing one.

[Dr Frook]

They launched it. "It" being a "satellite". Basically, it's not a satellite, it's a hump of junk they don't need which is similar in shape and form to an ICBM, suggesting that they're merely testing if they can fire one or not without actually firing one.

north korea needs a lovely revolution where all the elite get lined up against walls and ...

[Shadow00]

They launched it. "It" being a "satellite". Basically, it's not a satellite, it's a hump of junk they don't need which is similar in shape and form to an ICBM, suggesting that they're merely testing if they can fire one or not without actually firing one.

north korea needs a lovely revolution where all the elite get lined up against walls and ...

Since this got mentioned.
Lets imagine that ALL of the elites in north korea die tomorrow, killed by the people of north korea.
After that, the US needs to find another meaningless scapegoat to distract its people from politics etc.
We are all aware i hope that the regime of north korea can end at any minute.
Building nukes, they say and have been saying for a while now.
Were it an actual threat, the US wouldve dealt with it the second it came up.
Its just that the US doesnt care at all for a country with no oil or threat level. Thus, i can only consider the news coverage of north korea is simply a distraction