Long Range North Korean Missile Test Seems Imminent

Train Bringing Large Rocket to Launchpad

by Jason Ditz, May 31, 2009

North Korea’s reported plans to conduct a long-range missile test seem to be moving along, with evidence that the nation was moving a large rocket, potentially a Taepodong II missile, by train to one of its launchpads.

Since its atomic weapons test last Monday morning, North Korea has conducted a flurry of short-range missile tests. A successful test of a multi-state, long range ballistic missiles would potentially give the nation the ability to hit the western coast of the United States.

The tests come after North Korea left six-party disarmament talks last month. The United Nations condemned the nation for a satellite launch, which they claimed was a pretext for a missile test. In response, the North ousted the IAEA from its nuclear facility and said it would never again return to the talks.

The United States has threatened unspecified measures against the North Koreans for the action, with General George Casey saying America was ready to fight a war against the nation if necessary. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says that the US will not accept North Korea as a nuclear state.

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