North Koreans Launch Rocket Over the Pacific

[tekisui]

Source: NY Times

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea defied the United States, China and a series of United Nations resolutions by launching a rocket on Sunday that the country said was designed to propel a satellite into space, but that much of the world viewed as an effort to prove it is edging toward the capability to shoot a nuclear warhead on a longer-range missile.

The launching took place at 11:30 a.m. local time, said an official at the Foreign Ministry of South Korea who spoke on condition of anonymity until the government makes a formal announcement.

The motivation for the test appeared as much political as technological: After acquiring the fuel for six or more nuclear weapons during the Bush administration, and negotiating a halt of its main nuclear reactor in return for aid, North Korea’s recent statements appear to be a bid for attention from the Obama administration.

Over the years the North has sometimes conducted tests as a gambit to extract concessions for more aid and fuel and to demonstrate its nuclear capabilities.

Manufacturing a nuclear warhead that is small enough, light enough and heat-resistant enough to be mounted atop a missile is far more complex than building a basic nuclear device — and intelligence officials and outside experts believe North Korea is still years from that accomplishment. Typically, it takes many years of experimentation for a nation to learn how to shrink an ungainly test device into a slim warhead.

Nonetheless, the series of tests in recent years — in 2006 and 1998 — is prompting fears of North Korean proliferation among Japanese, Chinese and Western leaders. North Korea’s missiles have ranked among its few profitable exports — Iran, Syria and Pakistan have all been among its major customers. If this long-range test ends up a success, it would presumably make the design far more attractive on the international black market.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/world/asia/05korea.html?hp

[tekisui]

1. North Korea Rocket Flew Over Japan, Government Says

April 5 (Bloomberg) -- North Korea launched a rocket today which overflew Japan on a trajectory into the Pacific Ocean, according to a statement from the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office. South Korea’s government also confirmed the launch.

Prime Minister Taro Aso convened a working group on the incident, tasking it with securing the safety of Japanese territory, strengthening the nation’s information-gathering capabilities and assuring prompt disclosure of information to the public, the government announced.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura will brief the press on Japan’s further responses to the rocket launch at around noon local time, the government said. South Korea’s Presidential Office said it will brief the press at noon in Seoul.

The first stage of the missile separated and fell into the Sea of Japan, while a second stage landed in the Pacific, according to the Japanese government, which said it didn’t attempt to intercept the rocket.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=a4O4VCRXltXM&refer=asia