North Korea says it has missiles that can hit the US mainland, in a statement two days after South Korea unveiled a missile deal with the US.Really? Well, allegedly the Taepodong-2 has a range of about 6000km, which might bring Alaska into range. The red line on the Google map is roughly 6000km, which would indicate a possible ability to hit mainland Alaska from where North Korea was before it launched a missile at the U.S.
The statement said US bases in "Japan, Guam and the US mainland" were within its "scope of strike".
***
North Korea routinely issues strong rhetoric against Seoul and Washington.
The statement, carried by state-run KCNA news agency and attributed to North Korea's National Defence Commission, said Pyongyang would match any enemy "nuclear for nuclear, missile for missile".
On Sunday, South Korea announced it had reached an agreement with the US on extending the range of its ballistic missiles.
In case you are curious, the U.S.Navy has Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) equipped ships:
As of November 2012, there are 26 Aegis BMD combatants (5 cruisers [CGs] and 21 destroyers [DDGs] in the U.S. Navy. Of the 26 ships, 16 are assigned to the Pacific Fleet and 10 to the Atlantic Fleet. In response to the increasing demand for Aegis BMD capability from the Combatant Commanders, the MDA and Navy are working together to increase the number of Aegis BMD capable ships. Such efforts consist of upgrading Aegis DDGs to the BMD capability, incorporating Aegis BMD into the Aegis Moderization Program and new construction of Aegis BMD DDGs.
***
Aegis BMD is the first missile defense capability produced by the MDA that has been purchased by a military ally. Japan’s four KONGO Class Destroyers have been upgraded with BMD operational capabilities.
Claims of capability not backed up by demonstrations of capability are the norm in this case, e.g., the April 2012 launch of a satellite. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17698438.
ReplyDeleteI thought that the present Navy BMD ships were mostly only effective against short and medium range ballistic missiles. Long range ballistic missiles go too high and fast for it. The Navy might get one if they are in exactly the right place but other then that they won’t stop it.
ReplyDeleteThe ships are part of a larger system.
DeletePoint 1: One wonders if Dear Leader truly realizes that a single MIRVed Trident would effectively erase his country (not to mention all the other nuke capable stuff we have at hand)?
ReplyDeletePoint 2: Since Japan is part of BMD, this increases the number of defenses directed against NK.
Point 3: NK has yet to actually have a missile go that far.
Point 4: Regan was right on Star Wars.
Shadow (who has given up on Blogger after losing 4 passwords in two weeks)
All good points.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Blogger goes, I know it's a pain, but you ought to see the stuff that gets filtered.
From what I've seen on unmoderated and unfiltered boards, I can imagine.
DeleteHow is colonel doctor Mbuku these days? Has he been able to find anyone to help with the Nigerian national treasury? Has he had success with that online pharmacy? The internet is simultaneously a fascinating, entertaining, ridiculous and frightening place.
Shadow