A Happy July 4th From Fat Boy Kim...

[Lord Jim]

North Korea says tests first ICBM; experts say Alaska within range

North Korea said on Tuesday it successfully test-launched a first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which analysts said could put all of the U.S. state of Alaska in range for the first time.

U.S. networks Fox News and NBC said U.S. officials had told them they believed Tuesday's test was of an ICBM, marking a worrying milestone in Pyongyang's missile development. CNN quoted officials as saying it was probably a two-stage ICBM.

The launch, on the eve of U.S. Independence Day, took place days before leaders from the Group of 20 nations were due to discuss steps to rein in North Korea's weapons program, which it has pursued in defiance of United Nations Security Council sanctions.

North Korea's state media said the launch was ordered and supervised by leader Kim Jong Un and sent the Hwasong-14 933 km (580 miles) reaching an altitude of 2,802 km (1,741 miles) over a flight time of 39 minutes.

North Korea has said it is working to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the U.S. mainland, something U.S. President Donald Trump vowed in January would never happen.

Some analysts said the flight details suggested the new missile had a range of more than 8,000 km (4,970 miles), which would put significant parts of the U.S. mainland in range, representing major advances in its program.

David Wright, co-director of the Global Security Program at the U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists, said the flight time and distance suggested the missile could travel about 6,700 km (4,163 miles), bringing all of Alaska into range.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nort ... SKBN19P02W

[dales]

Time for a pre-emptive strike?

This being July 4th and all.

[Bicycle Bill]

Time for a pre-emptive strike?

This being July 4th and all.

You know the words of the song.....
"... and the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in his hair,
Gave proof to Jong Un, that the US don't scare."

-"BB"-

[MajGenl.Meade]

Shurely, a Fat Man or a Little Boy (or both)?

[Crackpot]

Doesn't that belong in the Trump/Christie thread

[rubato]

Time for a pre-emptive strike?

This being July 4th and all.

At least Un actually HAS WMD.


yrs,
rubato

[dales]

Not quite yet.

He might have the ability to have a rocket reach Alaska, NK does not yet have the ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead for the other half of the equation.

That'll happen sooner than later, I'm afraid.

[Lord Jim]

Well, I'm afraid I'm compelled to agree with rube here...

Even though he does not yet possess the capability to deliver a nuke with a missile on a warhead, the fact that he possesses nuclear bombs at all means that he has WMD...

[rubato]

Its pretty likely that his nukes will fit in a shipping container which makes it deliverable nearly anywhere you can get by a combination of ship and truck transport.


yrs,
rubato

[dales]

The news was that re-entry temperatures had to be taken into account.