NKorea Says It Is Preparing Satellite Launch

NKorea Says It Is Preparing Satellite Launch

www.nytimes.com

North Korea said Tuesday it is in full-fledged preparations to shoot a satellite into orbit, its clearest reference yet to an impending launch, which neighbors and the U.S. believe will be an illicit test of a long-range missile.

The statement from the North's space technology agency came amid international concern the communist nation is gearing up to fire its most advanced Taepodong-2 missile, which would violate a U.N. Security Council resolution.

Last week, the country said it has the right to ''space development.'' North Korea has in the past used terms like ''space development'' or ''satellite'' to disguise a missile test. When it test-fired a Taepodong-1 ballistic missile over Japan in 1998, it claimed to have put a satellite into orbit.

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Earlier it was Iran and now it is North Korea. It will be interesting to compare the reactions of the US vis-a-vis the satellite launches of both the countries.

And the timing of the North Korea launch (of what they call a satellite) is just too close to the Iran launch to not smell a collaboration here between North Korea and Iran.

What can the US do to stop this? Practically nothing. They may try to put pressure through China or Russia, but I am sure nothing will come out of it.

North Korea views this as more of a technology demostration, rather than putting the satellite to any real practical use. Wonder if the South Koreans will react to this.


www.nytimes.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 23-2-2009 by sunny_2008ny]

hahahaha America complains someone is bypassing treatys to test banned weapons! oh the irony!

Lets just hope it doesn't crash land in america.....

Have they ever put anything into space before at all? This will prbly be another one over Japan after which all hell will break loose....