N Korea

superbeets · May 30, 2017

[h=1]BREAKING NEWS: America's missile defense system WORKS: The Pentagon successfully shoots down a mock nuclear warhead over California in test of missile that will stop ICBMs reaching the US[/h]

U.S. military shot down mock intercontinental ballistic missile over the Pacific in a successful test fire exercise
Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) interceptor was fired from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and successfully struck its target today
Exercise comes amid high tensions between the U.S. and North Korea over their continued provocations
It took place just two days after North Korea's reported launch of a military projectile Monday morning

superbeets · May 30, 2017

The U.S. military has shot down mock warhead over the Pacific in a key success for it missile defense program, just days amid growing fears over North Korea's weapons capability.
The Pentagon announced the first missile defense test was taking place today involving a simulated attack by an intercontinental ballistic missile, firing off an interceptor from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, a Reuters witness at the base said.
The Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) interceptor successfully struck its target over the Pacific Ocean in an exercise aimed at helping gauge American ability to counter any potential similar threat from North Korea.

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The U.S. military has shot down mock warhead over the Pacific in a key success for it missile defense program (the rocket is launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Tuesday)

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A man and a child watch as the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element of the U.S. ballistic missile defense system launches during a flight test from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

The est comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Pyongyang over North Korea's continued provocations.
Just two days ago, North Korea fired at least one short-range ballistic missile on Monday that landed in the sea off its east coast, in Japan's maritime economic zone, the latest in a fast-paced series of missile tests defying world pressure and threats of more sanctions. Kim Jong-un has claimed its latest test missile landed just seven metres from its target in Japanese waters.
As a result, South Korea conducted a joint drill with a US supersonic B-1B Lancer bomber, prompting the North's dictator to claim the allied countries were practicing dropping nuclear bombs.

superbeets · May 30, 2017

The North Korean test fire came on the heels of two previous successful tests of medium-to-long-range missiles in as many weeks by the North, which has been conducting such tests at an unprecedented pace in an effort to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of hitting the mainland United States.
Kim Jong-un said the reclusive state would develop more powerful weapons to defend North Korea against the United States, and state media quoted him as saying: 'He expressed the conviction that it would make a greater leap forward in this spirit to send a bigger 'gift package to the Yankees' in retaliation for American military provocation'.
Today's $244 million US test has been heralded as a success after it brought down the mock intercontinental ballistic missile. However, that missile is just one weapon among North Korea's arsenal.
It does not prove that America can defend its against one of Pyongyang's intercontinental-range missiles, while the dictatorship is also understood to be moving closer to the capability of putting a nuclear warhead on such a missile and could have developed decoys sophisticated enough to trick an interceptor into missing the real warhead.
America's last intercept test, in June 2014, was successful, but the longer track record is spotty. Since the system was declared ready for potential combat use in 2004, only four of nine intercept attempts have been successful.

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From Harris Grade Road north of Lompoc, California, spectators watch an interceptor missile launch from an underground silo at Vandenberg Air Force Base

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The Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) interceptor successfully struck its target over the Pacific Ocean in an exercise aimed at helping gauge American ability to counter any potential similar threat from North Korea

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The Pentagon announced the first missile defense test was taking place today involving a simulated attack by an intercontinental ballistic missile, firing off an interceptor from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California

North Korea says its nuclear and missile programs are a defense against perceived U.S. military threats.
Laura Grego, senior scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, which has criticized the missile defense program, calls the interceptor an "advanced prototype," meaning it is not fully matured technologically even if it has been deployed and theoretically available for combat since 2004.
The interceptors are, in essence, the last line of U.S. defense against an attack by an intercontinental-range missile.
The Pentagon has other elements of missile defense that have shown to be more reliable, although they are designed to work against medium-range or shorter-range ballistic missiles. These include the Patriot missile, which numerous countries have purchased from the U.S., and the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, which the U.S. deployed this year to South Korea to defend against medium-range missiles from North Korea.

superbeets · May 30, 2017

[h=1]US, China could decide this week on North Korea sanctions[/h]

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Washington UN envoy Nikki Haley told reporters that China is pushing Pyongyang through back channels to change its behavior and discussing with the United States the timing of a possible new sanctions resolution

superbeets · May 30, 2017

The United States and China are discussing next steps in response to North Korea's missile tests and could reach a decision on new sanctions this week, Washington's UN envoy Nikki Haley said Tuesday.
China is pushing Pyongyang through back channels to change its behavior and discussing with the United States the timing of a possible new sanctions resolution, Haley told reporters.
"It's about at what point do we do the resolution... at what test model do we say now is the time to go forward," she said.
"We do think they are trying to counter what is happening now and they have the lay of the land," Haley said of the Chinese government.
"We are going to keep the pressure on China but we will continue to work with them ... and I think we will decide this week on what that looks like."
North Korea has carried out three missile tests in less than three weeks, defying UN warnings that it faces new sanctions.
On Monday, Pyongyang test-fired a short-range missile that fell provocatively close to Japan.
The United States launched talks on new sanctions with China a month ago with a view to drafting a proposed resolution to present to the council, but no text has been agreed.
Haley said the council was not backpedalling but rather carefully considering the next moves.
"Nothing is changing North Korea's actions and so it's regrouping and saying okay, what are we going to do if this is going to happen every other day," said Haley.
"How should we respond in a way that actually stops these things or slows them down?" she added.
China has pushed for a revival of the six-party talks that have been dormant since North Korea walked out on the negotiations in 2009.
Haley has said that the United States will open a dialogue with Pyongyang if it halts its missile and nuclear tests.
North Korea is seeking to develop a long-range missile capable of hitting the US mainland with a nuclear warhead, and has so far staged five atomic tests, two of them last year.
The Security Council adopted two sanctions resolutions last year to ramp up pressure on Pyongyang and deny leader Kim Jong-Un the hard currency needed to fund his military programs.
In all, six sets of sanctions have been imposed on North Korea since it first tested an atomic device in 2006.