TOP STORY

Missile Command

By Thomas Jeffrey

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Article Posted: Wednesday July 5, 2006

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North Korea, providing some 4th of July fireworks of its own, made good on its promise Wednesday to conduct an intercontinental missile test when it launched some seven separate missiles over a 14-hour period.

Kim Jong-Il’s communist regime, apparently unconcerned with any possible international reprisals for its actions, declared in an announcement to its people that it was prepared to respond against any threats to its nation from the United States. In addition, North Korea declared that its “strong war deterrent” was what was keeping their country at peace with the rest of the world.

Analysts believe that Pyongyang fired a total of seven separate missiles—one long-range and five shorter-range missiles—during the early morning hours on Wednesday beginning at 3:30AM, local Korean time. The last to be fired, North Korea’s fabled Taopongdong 2, failed just 40 minutes into its flight and crashed into the Sea of Japan.

The launches, while in and of themselves not entirely unexpected, produced world-wide condemnation and prompted as emergency session of the United Nations Security Counsel to convene in New York City.

Japan’s draft resolution, demanding “shift, strong” reaction from the U.N. as well as demanding that “countries cut off any money or materials that could be used for North Korea’s missile program,” was debated by the five permeant members Wednesday afternoon. Japan later in the day imposed limited economic sanctions of it’s own on Kim Jong-Il’s regime.

U.N. Ambassador John Bolton emerged from the meeting later to declare that “No member defended what the North Koreans had done,” and was joined by Japan’s ambassador, Kenzo Oshima, who stated that “We hope the response from the council will be swift, strong and resolute.”

Just last week, Pyongyang threatened the West with nuclear war if it was attacked, accusing both the United States and Japan of plotting a preemptive strike against the DPRK.

However, some analysts predict that Wednesday’s move may be designed to provide an avenue for the North Koreans to rejoin the six party talks—something that they abruptly abandoned last month—without losing face. And with that provision a key component of Japan’s proposal to the U.N. Security Council, it’s a safe bet that we’ll be seeing representatives from Pyongyang back at the bargaining table very soon.

It’s either that or a mushroom cloud for Mr. Kim Jong-Il.

Sources:
N. Korea vows nuke response to U.S. attack – AP via Yahoo News
U.S.: World united against N. Korean missile threat
– CNN.com
North Korea Test-Fires Seventh Missile – Washington Post

- posted by: Thomas Jeffrey and Jul 5, 09:06 PM in North-Korea

 

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