Japan warns that North Korea may fire missile at U.S. on Independence Day
By
Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 10:36 AM on 19th June 2009
North Korea may launch a long-range ballistic missile towards Hawaii on American Independence Day, according to Japanese intelligence officials.
The missile, believed to be a Taepodong-2 with a range of up to 4,000 miles, would be launched in early July from the Dongchang-ni site on the north-western coast of the secretive country.
Intelligence analysts do not believe the device would be capable of hitting Hawaii's main islands, which are 4,500 miles from North Korea.
This is North Korea's Taepodong-2 missile which has a range of 4,000 miles. Intelligence analysts do not believe it would be capable of hitting Hawaii which is 4,500 miles away
It was announced today that the U.S. has deployed anti-missile defences around Hawaii in response to the threat.
North Korea test-fired a similar long-range missile on July 4 three years ago, but it failed seconds after liftoff.
U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates said the additional defences
around Hawaii consist of a ground-based mobile missile system and a
radar system nearby.
Together they could shoot an incoming missile in mid air.
'Without telegraphing what we will do, I would just say... we are in
a good position, should it become necessary, to protect Americans and
American territory,' Gates said today.
A new missile launch - though not expected to reach U.S. territory -
would be a brazen slap in the face of the international community,
which punished North Korea with new U.N. sanctions for conducting a
second nuclear test on May 25 in defiance of a U.N. ban.
North Korea spurned the U.N. Security Council resolution with
threats of war and pledges to expand its nuclear bomb-making program.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il inspecting the command of the 7th Infantry Division of the North Korean Peoples Army
The Security Council resolution calls on all 192 U.N. member states
to inspect vessels on the high seas - with the owner country's approval
- if they believe the cargo contains banned weapons.
In what would be the first test case for the sanctions, the U.S.
military has begun tracking a North Korean-flagged ship, Kang Nam,
which left a port in North Korea on Wednesday, two U.S. officials said.
The ship, which may be carrying illicit weapons, was in the Pacific
Ocean off the coast of China on today, the officials said on condition
of anonymity because they were discussing intelligence.
It was uncertain what the Kang Nam was carrying, but it has been
involved in weapons proliferation before, one of the officials said.
Details of the missile launch came from the Japan's best-selling newspaper, Yomiuri Shimbun.
Both
Japanese intelligence and U.S. reconnaissance satellites have collated
information pointing to the launch, according to the report.
A missile fired from North Korea would have to travel 4,500 miles before it reached the U.S. state of Hawaii
It is understood the communist state is likely to fire the missile
between July 4 and 8.
A launch on July 4 would coincide with Independence Day in the States.It would also be the 15th anniversary of North Korean president Kim Il-Sung's death.
Officials had initially believed that North Korea might attempt to launch a similar device towards either Japan's Okinawa island, Guam or Hawaii.
But the ministry concluded launches toward Okinawa or Guam were 'extremely unlikely' because the first-stage booster could drop into waters off China, agitating Beijing, or hit western Japanese territory.
If the missile were fired in the direction of Hawaii, the booster could drop in the Sea of Japan.
News of the launch would put 'enormous military pressure on the United States,' the Yomiuri said, citing the ministry report.
A spokesman for the Japanese Defense Ministry declined to comment on the report.
South Korea's Defense Ministry and the National Intelligence Service - the country's main spy agency - said they could not confirm it.
It was announced today that the U.S. has deployed anti-missile defences around Hawaii in response to the threat.
Tension on the divided Korean peninsula has risen markedly since the North, led by Kim Jong-il, conducted two nuclear tests this year in defiance of repeated international warnings
The first rocket, fired in April, was widely seen as a disguised long-range missile test. A second launch came on May 25.
U.S. satellite intelligence has shown that a missile launch pad had been erected at Dongchang-ri on North Korea's north-west coast.
General James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said it would take at least three to five years for North Korea to pose a real threat to the U.S. west coast.
The UN Security Council last week authorised member states to inspect North Korean sea, air and land cargo, requiring them to seize and destroy goods shipped that violate the sanctions against arms export.
On Saturday, in response to this declaration Pyongyang said it would bolster its nuclear programs and threatened war.
Growing tensions come as arms-watchdog the International Crisis Group (ICG) claimed North Korea has several thousand tonnes of chemical weapons it could mount on missiles.
The report from the non-government organisation said they believed the North's army have about 2,500 to 5,000 tonnes of chemical weapons which include mustard gas, sarin and other deadly nerve agents.
ICG also also warned South Korea may become a target.
'If there is an escalation of conflict and if military hostilities break out, there is a risk that they could be used. In conventional terms, North Korea is weak and they feel they might have to resort to using those,' said Daniel Pinkston, the ICG's representative in Seoul.
The North has been working on chemical weapons for decades and can
deliver them through long-range artillery directed on Seoul which is
home to about half of South Korea's 49 million people and via missiles
that could hit all of the country.
Explore more:
- People:
- Robert Gates
- Places:
- South Korea,
- China,
- North Korea,
- Japan
- Organisations:
- Security Council
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Comments (42)
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
North Korea is not going to attack anyone. Only people of low intelligence would think otherwise!
The USA should stop threatening North Korea and then they would not need nuclear weapons to defend themselves!
We have enough missiles to kill everyone on this planet 10 times over - stopping nuclear proliferation is only seeking to stop more you nitwit.
The end of the world is nigh! Bye, bye!
On the other hand, maybe Obama will sort it out.
Aren't we capable of seeing past the war mongering?
They are pulling the same stunt over and over again , with different countries. And we are falling for it
Imagine North Korea as a small child. They will cry, hold their breath and throw fits in order to get what they want. If their parents (international Comunity) just ignore them then they will eventually grow tired and forget about it. If the parents give them attention, then it shows that crying, holding their breath, and throwing fits gets at least some attention and might eventually persuade them to give into to demands. Moral of the story, Let North Korea hold their breath and pass out....
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The United States should avoid too much tough rhetoric with North Korea too early on because, well, let's face it, their leader is nuts.
As for the threat to attack US soil, if they can actually pull this thing off, ( without having to send the missile by ship) then the gloves are off. The US would have the legal right under international law and the political prerogative to an armed reprisal that should aim at extending the DMZ to the entire country of North Korea. All military hardware and any aggressive troop movements should be met with full force in order to protect the US and her allies--in particular South Korea.
- Michael, Perth Australia, 19/6/2009 09:22
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