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North Korean Rocket Seen on Launch Pad

CNN
posted: 10 HOURS 38 MINUTES AGO
comments: 1911
filed under: World News
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(March 30) -- A North Korean rocket slated for launch sometime early next month can be clearly seen in a satellite photograph taken Sunday, the Institute for Science and International Security said Sunday.
The satellite imagery, obtained by the ISIS from DigitalGlobe, is said to show the rocket at the Musudan-ri launch site in northeastern North Korea. The image casts a shadow on the ground below.
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CNN could not independently confirm the information provided by the institute, led by former U.N. nuclear inspector David Albright. Defense Department officials were not immediately available for comment.
The Associated Press quoted Tim Brown, an analyst for globalsecurity.org, as saying that he also believes the images show a rocket on the launch pad. But he said it is unclear whether the craft is a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile or a space launch vehicle designed to carry a satellite.
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U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday there is little doubt that the planned launch is designed to bolster that North Korea's military capability.
He also indicated that the U.S. military could be prepared to shoot down a North Korean missile if the rogue regime develops the capability to reach Hawaii or the western continental United States in a future launch.
The North Korean government says it will launch a commercial satellite atop a rocket sometime between April 4 and April 8.
"I don't know anyone at a senior level in the American government who does not believe this technology is intended as a mask for the development of an intercontinental ballistic missile," Gates said during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday."
Gates noted that while the United States believes it is North Korea's "long-term intent" to add a nuclear warhead to any such missile, he "personally would be skeptical that they have the ability right now to do that."
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Japan recently mobilized its missile defense system -- an unprecedented step -- in response to the planned North Korean launch, Japanese officials said.
The move, noteworthy for a country with a pacifist constitution, is aimed at shooting down any debris from the launch that might fall into Japanese territory.
In a concurrent response, U.S. Navy ships capable of shooting down ballistic missiles are being moved to the Sea of Japan, a Navy spokesman said Thursday.
Gates said that the U.S. military could shoot down "an aberrant missile, one that was headed for Hawaii ... or something like that, we might consider it, but I don't think we have any plans to (do) anything like that at this point."
He does not believe North Korea currently has the technology to reach Alaska or Pacific coast.
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Gates said that impending missile launch is a clear demonstration of the failure of the recent six-party talks to disarm the North Korean regime.
"It's very troubling. The reality is that the six-party talks really have not made any headway any time recently," he said.
"If (the missile launch) is Kim Jong-Il's welcoming present to a new president ... it says a lot about the imperviousness of this regime in North Korea to any kind of diplomatic overtures."
Gates said that he believes economic sanctions are the best tool to getting countries like North Korea and Iran to the negotiating table. Both countries are believed by the United States and other Western nations to be trying to acquire a nuclear capability.
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© 2009 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
2009-03-30 09:15:00
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Karymari255

11:55 PMMar 31 2009

Jusbnfrank 11:37 PMMar 31 2009 Obama is a fart breaking in the wind. Right HariKaryMari? He farts in bed and pulls the sheets over Michelle's head.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$just frank is your farts have lumps ? did not want to post more than once aol srews up

AVG RATING:
(2)

Luckfibs

11:55 PMMar 31 2009

FlyANight 11:46 PMMar 31 2009 Jusbnfrank 11:33 PMMar 31 2009 That is one thing common to liberals, they believe if they repeat something enough times it becomes the truth.JusbnFrank,What you write reminds me of the fact that all conservatives only believe everything they themselves write================== you dont believe what you write? i dont blame you; it looks stupid.

AVG RATING:
(1)

Luckfibs

11:53 PMMar 31 2009

LOOK!! asinine libs that cant even admit north korea is a threat!!! someone babysit the libs til they grow up. childish morons that they are.

AVG RATING:
(2)

Jusbnfrank

11:52 PMMar 31 2009

FlyinmySoup, if I want any poo poo off you, I will cut off the top of your head and scoop it out. Just review how many times one of your fellow liberals has posted the same tripe, seven or eight times. It only makes my point.

AVG RATING:
(3)

Thegolfrangedad

11:52 PMMar 31 2009

Is it possible that NK is secretly planning a missle strike on Russia, so as to disrupt the flow of Natural Gas to the pipeline that feeds Germany and eastern europe? This is the issue that should be considered. NK has no intention of taking on the US, only will attack some other country so as to cause a chain reaction of fear and retaliation. That is the way NK works.

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(1)

Jusbnfrank

11:48 PMMar 31 2009

Be nice HariKaryMari, or we will have Spain bring you up on charges of sedition and treason. You are the American version of Tokyo Rose.

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(4)

FlyANight

11:46 PMMar 31 2009

Jusbnfrank 11:33 PMMar 31 2009 That is one thing common to liberals, they believe if they repeat something enough times it becomes the truth.JusbnFrank,What you write reminds me of the fact that all conservatives only believe everything they themselves write

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(4)

Karymari255

11:45 PMMar 31 2009

Architekt53 11:37 PMMar 31 2009 "Far too many timid or uninformed sources maintain that a single launch of a missile poses no true threat to the United States, given our retaliatory power. A reality check is in order and must be discussed in response to such an absurd claim: In fact, one small nuclear weapon, delivered by an ICBM can destroy the United States by maximizing the effect of the resultant electromagnetic pulse upon detonation. -----------------------------------qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqarchitekt= you stay up at night to dream up BS like your post

AVG RATING:
(3)

Karymari255

11:44 PMMar 31 2009

Architekt53 11:37 PMMar 31 2009 "Far too many timid or uninformed sources maintain that a single launch of a missile poses no true threat to the United States, given our retaliatory power. A reality check is in order and must be discussed in response to such an absurd claim: In fact, one small nuclear weapon, delivered by an ICBM can destroy the United States by maximizing the effect of the resultant electromagnetic pulse upon detonation. -----------------------------------qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqarchitekt= you stay up at night to dream up BS like your post

AVG RATING:
(4)

Jusbnfrank

11:42 PMMar 31 2009

HinsonCM, our missles have a failsafe mechanism which would explode our missle, probably over international waters. But, there is no chance of that happening because Obama will not shoot it down. We can only pray Japan does the right thing. Can you believe that, we need Japan to help us out.

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(3)

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