North Korea Test Fires Another Long-Range Ballistic Missile
It looks like the North Koreans may have pulled off another successful missile test pending further analysis:
North Korea fired a ballistic missile that flew about 500 kilometers, Sunday, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
This marked the North’s second missile provocation since President Moon Jae-in was sworn in May 10. The first was launched May 14.
President Moon immediately ordered the new chief of the National Security Office, Chung Eui-yong, to preside over a meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Security Council (NSC) at Cheong Wa Dae. Chung was appointed to the post earlier in the day.
“North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile in the eastern direction at around 4:59 p.m. from the vicinity of Pukchang in South Pyongan Province,” the JCS said in a release. “Flight distance is about 500 kilometers.”
The JCS noted the characteristics of the missile were presumed to be similar to the “Pukguksong-2” intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) fired in February. At the time, the North’s state media said its IRBM used a high-thrust solid fuel-powered engine, marking the first time it tested a solid-fueled, surface-to-surface missile that has more than a medium range. [Korea Times]
You can read more at the link.
And they will continue to do so, they have the backing of the Red Chinese regardless of what the American government and other people may think.
So much for the rumors we had some elite cyber hijinks going on. Thought that sounded like some BS. 🙄
Remember when people thought Trump would retaliate? 😆
“Remember when people thought Trump would retaliate?”
I do… and he will.
His ducks just have to all be in a row so that the win is unmistakable.
Yeah if we’re going to do something it needs to be an unmistakable show of violence that says “Enough already, and as bad as this was we’ve got much more.” not more p-footing around.
Take Somalia for example, UNOSOM I was a failure because they p-footed, it was hopelessly bogged down by political rules and niceties. UNITAF under Bush rolled in like gangbusters, 15th MEU straight-up took the naval and air ports, stood there looking dead at the militias and said “Yeah, we took this, it’s ours now. Do something, go ahead do something. That’s right go home.”. Then comes UNOSOM II and Clinton p-foot’ing again thinking you can conduct a successful war only with SOF. How’d that turn out again?
You can’t lightly slap the DPRK on the hand or even across the face saying “No… no.” You need to hit them in the chest with a 50lb sledge and while they’re wheezing from the blow you break both their ankles with the same sledge. You then lean over them and say “While you’re down there waiting on those ankles to heal you think about the pain in your chest. Next time it’ll be multiple 200lb sledges from all angles and we’ll completely obliterate your ribcage. So knock it the F off.”.
The only positive media coverage Trump has been given is when he missiled Syria.
A successful hit on North Korea will wipe all this Russian Collusion nonsense right off the front page of the paper for a while.
This lesson has likely not been lost on him. The best way to beat the media is to feed them stories more sensational than what they can manufacture.
There are so few reasons to let North Korea have its way and there are so many reasons to attack it.
The real trigger will be a nuclear test… though these increasingly successful missiles are as troubling.
A preemptive strike on a prepared nuclear test is a real possibility… as is a “preemptive” strike on nuclear test infrastructure when most politically and logistically convenient based on a little white fib that intel suggested a test was about to happen.
It is much easier to have round-the-clock coverage and attacks on any missile and nuclear development activity than to find functional nuclear ICBMs hidden around the country later.
…and, as NK constantly threatens to turn America into a sea of nuclear fire, what other nations can honestly complain about a little bit of self preservation?
Yeeeesss… lots of good reasons for a strike.
It feeds the media, the military industrial complex, the attention of citizens looking for an enemy, etc.
…but, of course, the response will be interesting in South Korea and Japan.