North Korea fires ballistic missile built to be launched from submarine into Japan's EEZ

[jpak]

Source: Japan Times

North Korea test-fired what is believed to be a ballistic missile built to be launched from a submarine from waters off its east coast into Japan’s exclusive economic zone off Shimane Prefecture on Wednesday, showing off military technologies that if successfully developed would make it significantly more difficult for the United States to destroy its nuclear arsenal.

The test-firing, which was immediately detected by Tokyo and Seoul, was carried out just hours after Pyongyang said it would resume stalled denuclearization talks with Washington.

North Korea apparently demonstrated its missile technologies with the aim of gaining bargaining power against the United States during the upcoming denuclearization talks.

Japanese defense officials said North Korea probably still owns only outdated submarines that are unable to go far into the Pacific Ocean and directly attack the U.S. mainland.

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Read more: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/10/02/national/north-korea-launches-apparent-missile-japan-coast-guard/#.XZUSdkZKjIU

[orangecrush]

1. They'll get a congratulations call

From Trump.

[herding cats]

2. I'm sure Trump will praise it as a perfect launch.

Excellent, no problems at all with the launch.

[NickB79]

3. Subs unable to go far into the Pacific, eh?

I imagine they're basing this on the sub's fuel capacity to leave and then return to port.

However, if your crew is fanatical enough, they could double their range by simply disregarding all concerns about coming home and run till the diesel's gone before launching.

[Voltaire2]

5. the launch capability is a significant tech step

They are, remarkably given their resources and isolation, making steady progress on their weapons tech.

[Voltaire2]

4. lulzd. NK is a horrible stalinist hellhole, but their eye jabbing makes me laugh.