North Korea about to launch Taepodong-2

North Korea has put Taepodong-2 on pad and is expected to launch it soon. It has threatened a war if someone tries to shoot down the missile. Launch route announced to be over japan. Booster phase expected to drop into sea of japan.

Japan has geared up for defence, and various asian media outlets reported today that SDF has given a clearance to intercept anything threatening the mainland. US is also participating in defence of japan by placing USS Stethem, equipped with SM-3, to port of Aomori to protect Tohoku region which is not covered by japanese PAC-3 systems.

Anoyone know if NK military is still on combat readiness it declared in response to combined US/SK March 9th exercise?

North Korea is always at a high state of combat readiness. A far better measure of the seriousness of this impending crisis is the state of combat readiness of the five other members of the six nations.

I personally do not get too worked up over anything the North Koreans are doing. The Syrian reactor the North Koreans were helping with was blown up so that problem has been resolved. There was a photo of a large North Korean missile on the news recently and I noticed the direction control system dates from WWII. They have a long way to go to catch up with the West (and most of the East).

Really, the best thing that could happen to North Korea is for them to go ahead and try to invade the South. Then we could take out their leadership and reunite the penninsula. The average citizen in NK could use a break.

SampanViking said:

North Korea is always at a high state of combat readiness. A far better measure of the seriousness of this impending crisis is the state of combat readiness of the five other members of the six nations.

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True. Must be hellowa strain to NK economy.

Did extra US troops leave south korea after march US/SK joint exercises? IIRC it was something like 14 000 men.

Japan is perfectly in the right to shoot down missiles coming into its airspace or about to do so. We'll see if that's actually the flight path the missile takes.

Judgement Day said:

I personally do not get too worked up over anything the North Koreans are doing. The Syrian reactor the North Koreans were helping with was blown up so that problem has been resolved. There was a photo of a large North Korean missile on the news recently and I noticed the direction control system dates from WWII. They have a long way to go to catch up with the West (and most of the East).

Really, the best thing that could happen to North Korea is for them to go ahead and try to invade the South. Then we could take out their leadership and reunite the penninsula. The average citizen in NK could use a break.

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I doubt whether the South Korean economy is big enough or in a good enough shape to handle reunification with N Korea. It isnt West Germany.

bladerunner said:

I doubt whether the South Korean economy is big enough or in a good enough shape to handle reunification with N Korea. It isnt West Germany.

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A potentially good point bladerunner, but the non-military infrastructure in the North is minimal at best. It would be an economic boom to the South to head North and start developing the country. Also remember that there are only about 24 million residents of North Korea as compared to around 49 million residents of South Korea. (and who says the world isn't overpopulated?)

All in all, I think reunification (forced or otherwise) would be good for the South.

bladerunner said:

I doubt whether the South Korean economy is big enough or in a good enough shape to handle reunification with N Korea. It isnt West Germany.

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Just as importantly, North Korea isn't East Germany. It's population is far more destitute, far more backwards, far more brainwashed, and far less capable to be integrated into the South Korean and global economy. As far as physical infrastructure goes the North is fairly well provided with roads, bridges etc. and a large manufacturing base, but it isn't very efficient and the workers wouldn't be able to compete with other countries.

Let me take a realist view point, if NK successfully test fires this rocket, it will help NK defence industry due to they can export more modern missiles to other nations. The know how could be traded to Iran, Syria, Pakistan etc.

Baibar of Jalat said:

Let me take a realist view point, if NK successfully test fires this rocket, it will help NK defence industry due to they can export more modern missiles to other nations. The know how could be traded to Iran, Syria, Pakistan etc.

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FAS and Global Security pretty much say that NK/Iranian missile programs are infact one.