his is the Masudan-ri Missile launch site in North Korea, where reports indicate Sunday, June 18, 2006, the North Korean's have fueled and are preparing to test fire a long range Taepodong nuclear-capable missile, capable of reaching Russia, much of Asia, Alaska and possibly Washington State.
Storm clouds have obscured the launch site, making a launch risky for the North Koreans. Not launching could prove equally risky. News reports indicate once fuel has been loaded into the missile it is very difficult to remove; however, the fuel's corrosive effects will destroy the launch vehicle within 48-hours of fueling if it remains.
04/04/09
The North Korean's are hailing today's launch as a success, claiming that a satellite is orbiting Earth transmitting patriotic anthems. Western sources are saying the missile never reached orbit.
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command officials acknowledged today that North Korea launched a Taepo Dong 2 missile at 10:30 p.m. EDT Saturday which passed over the Sea of Japan/East Sea and the nation of Japan.
Stage one of the missile fell into the Sea of Japan/East Sea. The remaining stages along with the payload itself landed in the Pacific Ocean.
No object entered orbit and no debris fell on Japan.
NORAD and USNORTHCOM assessed the space launch vehicle as not a threat to North America or Hawaii and took no action in response to this launch.
This is all of the information that will be provided by NORAD and USNORTHCOM pertaining to the launch.
Here is an article from CNN detailing the events:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/06/18/nkorea.missile.reut/index.html
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/facility/nodong.htm
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060620/ts_nm/korea_north_dc_9
Storm clouds have obscured the launch site, making a launch risky for the North Koreans. Not launching could prove equally risky. News reports indicate once fuel has been loaded into the missile it is very difficult to remove; however, the fuel's corrosive effects will destroy the launch vehicle within 48-hours of fueling if it remains.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7982874.stm
The North Korean's are hailing today's launch as a success, claiming that a satellite is orbiting Earth transmitting patriotic anthems. Western sources are saying the missile never reached orbit.
NORAD and USNORTHCOM monitor North Korean launch
April 05, 2009
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command officials acknowledged today that North Korea launched a Taepo Dong 2 missile at 10:30 p.m. EDT Saturday which passed over the Sea of Japan/East Sea and the nation of Japan.
Stage one of the missile fell into the Sea of Japan/East Sea. The remaining stages along with the payload itself landed in the Pacific Ocean.
No object entered orbit and no debris fell on Japan.
NORAD and USNORTHCOM assessed the space launch vehicle as not a threat to North America or Hawaii and took no action in response to this launch.
This is all of the information that will be provided by NORAD and USNORTHCOM pertaining to the launch.
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