[FPSPACE] Report: New long-range NK missile identified at R&D facility; may appear in upcoming military parade

[Peter Pesavento]

Could this (alleged) new rocket be used in space launch attempts?  Perhaps
something larger like a biological capsule, or a manned capsule precursor?

 

Can anyone talk to that?

 

 

>From the UK Telegraph

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9182604/North-Kore
a-preparing-to-unveil-missile-capable-of-striking-continental-US.html

 

 


North Korea 'preparing to unveil missile capable of striking continental US'


North Korea is preparing to unveil a new long-range missile that is capable
of striking targets in the continental US. 


By Julian Ryall in Tokyo 

9:27AM BST 03 Apr 2012

Reconnaissance satellites have identified the huge missile at a government
research and development facility in Pyongyang, South Korean government
sources told the Chosun Ilbo newspaper. 

Analysts estimate the weapon to be around 130 feet long and, equipped with a
more powerful booster unit, capable of delivering a warhead more than 6,200
miles. 

Unveiling the missile will raise new fears in neighbouring countries,
already alarmed by Pyongyang's insistence that it will go ahead with the
launch in mid-April of a rocket to put a satellite into orbit. 

Washington, Seoul and Tokyo believe the launch is a covert test launch of a
missile. 

Analysis of the rocket, which is being prepared for launch at the new
Tongchang-ri aerospace facility in the far north-west of the country,
indicates that at 105 feet long it is identical in length to the Taepodong-2
missile that was fired in April 2009 and, with a range of 4,163 miles, is
the most potent missile in the
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/> North Korean
armoury at present. 

South Korean and US officials said they believe Pyongyang wants to show the
new missile off at the military parade scheduled for April 15 to mark the
100th anniversary of the birthday of the founder of the nation, Kim Il-sung,
or on April 25th, which marks the founding of the North Korean army. 

The government sources said they were unable to determine whether the weapon
is functional or "a life-size mock-up" at present. 

Tokyo is taking the threat posed by the planned launch of the North Korean
rocket, announced for between April 12 and 16, seriously and is sending 450
troops to the southern island of Ishigaki to man Patriot Advanced
Capability-3 interceptor missiles. 

The Japanese government has stated that it will shoot down the rocket if it
threatens Japanese territory. 

Tokyo is also deploying state-of-the-art Aegis warships in the East China
Sea to monitor the launch. The vessels will be protected by F-15 fighters.

 

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