If reports are to be believed, that North Korean missile test on July 4th may have been aimed at America’s 50th state:
TOKYO (Reuters) – A North Korean missile launched on Wednesday was aimed at an area of the ocean close to Hawaii, a Japanese newspaper reported on Friday.
Experts estimated the Taepodong-2 ballistic missile to have a range of up to 6,000 km, putting Alaska within its reach. Wednesday’s launch apparently failed shortly after take-off and the missile landed in the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan, a few hundred kilometres from the launch pad.
But data from U.S. and Japanese Aegis radar-equipped destroyers and surveillance aircraft on the missile’s angle of take-off and altitude indicated that it was heading for waters near Hawaii, the Sankei Shimbun reported, citing multiple sources in the United States and Japan.
North Korea may have targeted Hawaii to show the United States that it was capable of landing a missile there, or because it is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific fleet, the paper said.
Two points worth mentioning. First, the last world power that even touched Hawaii learned its lesson on August 6, 1945 and August 9, 1945. Second, as someone who has fallen in love with Hawai’i, anyone who friggin’ touches that place needs to burn.
H/T: Outside The Beltway and Wizbang
July 7th, 2006 at 12:09 am
If nothing else, North Korea appears to hold no more leverage. Even if they have nuclear weapons, they essentially have no way of transporting them. They cannot expect bribes from the UN or patience from the US now. If they keep up their futile fight, it may not be too long before attempts are made to free the people of North Korea from the tyranny (and lunacy) of Kim Jong Il.
July 7th, 2006 at 12:17 am
CrUVa,
I don’t disagree in some respects. In others, though, I remember that this is an issues we’ve been dealing with since 1994. Heck, I remember back then when Clinton sent Jimmy Carter of all people to negotiate a deal with Kim Il Song. A deal we should all regret.
However……
Even if the N.K.’s can’t deliver a nuclear weapon to American shores, they definitely could nuke South Korea and probably could nuke Japan. Either alternative would be a disaster.
And that, I think, is the one benefit that these recent events could bring about. Japan and South Korea are now recognizing…..as the United States and Australia already do,that Pyongyang is as immense a threat to the security of Asia as Berlin-circa-1939 was to Europe.
July 7th, 2006 at 6:45 am
being from and living in hawaii, i loved the responses here. seems like we’re sitting ducks – although it’s not nec. to panic – also seems obvious that n. korea needs to do “testing” in some other way.
so the missile tests were not successful and this makes n.korea not a threat. Ha! tell that to anyone living here – i mean, do we wait until the long range missiles are “successful” before reacting??? makes you wonder.
a hui ho
July 7th, 2006 at 8:13 am
More North Korean madness
If you want another scary scenario, read this. A military option against DPRK may be necessary after all.
July 7th, 2006 at 12:32 pm
N. Korea missile aimed at area off Hawaii -
Regardless of weather the following report is right or wrong, it is plainly clear that North Korea is?trying to become a?direct threat to the United States.?Addressing?them now, before they actually become a threat would be far easier than after th…
July 23rd, 2006 at 10:13 pm
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