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North Korea, which successfully launched its first homemade satellite earlier this month, is preparing to launch a communications satellite. (Washington Post)

James Lewis, an expert on defense technology at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said this about the first launch: “There’s almost always a link between satellite programs like this and military programs and there’s almost always a link between satellites and nuclear weapons. It’s the same delivery vehicle. This action does not convince us that Iran is acting responsibly to advance stability or security in the region.”

Space really is the final frontier. Naturally, North Korea would like to develop its technology in this area, despite our country’s warnings not to test a long-range ballistic missile, which may have the capacity to reach the West Coast. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said such a test would “be very unhelpful in moving our relationship forward.”

North Korea fired a Taepodong-1 missile into the Pacific Ocean over Japan eleven years ago and another in 2006. If North Korea launches a third missile over Japan, the U.S. would be involved, as the missile would enter U.S.-protected air space.

(Image source: CNN)

**The U.S. Air Force announced that an unarmed Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was successfully test-fired earlier this week. Launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, the ICBM hit its target over the Pacific Ocean near the Marshall Islands.

Lt. Col. Lesa Toler, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander and the mission director, said, “The fact that we can randomly select an on-alert operational ICBM from any missile wing and launch it without making any modifications to the components to hit a bulls-eye target is a testament to the system’s reliability.” (AP)

**The U.S. Navy has announced the successful interception of a ballistic missile target over the Pacific Ocean, the first Third Fleet operation firing to use the Standard Missile-3 against a ballistic target.

Vice Adm. Samuel J. Locklear, Commander, U.S. Third Fleet, called the engagement “extraordinary” and that it “highlights the successful transition from developmental test flights to operational fleet execution and demonstrates the viability of the Maritime BMD Concept of Operations.” (SPX)

**Sources report that Bahrain is conducting a missile defense exercise with the U.S. According to Bahrain’s official news agency, the exercise is a joint effort with the U.S. Central Command to “boost military cooperation.” The Persian Gulf country has a cooperative agreement with our country’s military. (AFP)

**Earlier this week, a Japanese newspaper reported that the government was “moving towards” launching an early warning missile defense satellite. The newspaper said it received a draft of the ballistic missile defense plan, which contains information about deploying an early warning satellite that would monitor and warn against offensive missile launches. (UPI)

 
According to South Korea, North Korea is building a missile launch site capable of firing advanced rockets. South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee told his country’s parliament that North Korea began building the site about eight years ago, and the site is 80 percent complete.

North Korea has about 200 Nodong missiles with a range of 800 miles, capable of reaching Japan. The country also has 600 Scud-type missiles that may be capable of reaching South Korea. Last month, a South Korean newspaper reported that North Korea was updating a missile launch site located on the coast of North Hamkyong to possibly test-launch a Taepodong-2.

Last month, the U.S. removed North Korea from a state terrorist sponsors list in return for allowing inspections of areas suspected of nuclear activity. As part of the deal, North Korea will disable a source of weapons-grade plutonium, the Yongbyon reactor.

(Source: AP – Photo source: Reuters)

 
On September 17, Japan test-fired a Patriot Advanced Capability – 3 (PAC-3) missile at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, the first time a foreign PAC-3 was fired at the range. Retired U.S. army lieutenant and Lockheed vice president of air and missile and defense Dennis Calvin said, “The Japanese were well trained. The missile shot came off without any hitches and was extremely successful. We used a surrogate tactical ballistic missile for the test.” (Defense News)

Are there Russian spies in the Czech Republic? According to Czech counterintelligence, there are, and they’re trying to stir up dissention over that country’s planned missile defense radar base. Spies allegedly contacted organizations, politicians, and the media to spread propaganda. (AP)

Good news about Congress, at last. Democrats, who’d been blocking funding for missile defense bases in Poland and the Czech Republic, “likely” will concede to allow construction on the base in Poland, with “sharply” reduced funding. According to the AP, the bill would allow full funding for the base in the Czech Republic. (AP)

Several countries are shoring up their defense systems against nuclear threat by North Korea , including Japan. On Tuesday, the country tested a ballistic missile defense unit in Tokyo , according to the Associated Press.
 
A ministry spokesperson speaking on the condition of anonymity said the test was “designed to test the troops’ ability to use the equipment.” According to the source, no actual missile was fired. The exercise involved land-to-air PAC-3 interceptors.
 
In response to nuclear threat from North Korea , Japan seeks to enhance its missile defense resources in case of an attack. According to the AP report, some of North Korea ‘s missiles can reach targets in Japan , home of about 50,000 U.S. troops. Japan and the U.S. are collaborate to protect against nuclear threat from North Korea in response to the country’s tests in 2006.

Source: Associated Press
Photo credit: SpaceWar.com

In an effort to help protect Israel possibly from nuclear threat from Iran, the U.S. is considering deploying missile defense radar to the beleaguered country.
 
A source speaking on the condition of anonymity told Agence France-Presse that the “idea here is to help Israel create a layered missile defense capability to protect it from all sorts of threats in the region, near and far.”
 
At a meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Robert Gates, secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense, agreed to “explore” the possibility of sharing missile early warning launch information and funding two projects that would defend against short-range rockets and mortars.
 
According to Agence France-Presse, the defense missile radar is X-band, which can “target the warhead of a long or medium range missile in space.” The U.S. has plans to deploy X-band radar to the Czech Republic and has already deployed the radar to Japan.
 
Israel has been involved in an ongoing conflict with the Palestinians over which group will occupy the same area of land. Whether the disagreements eventually are resolved in a two-state or binational solution, who knows? That’s a separate issue from the more pressing one: neighbors with nuclear weapons. Let’s hope the decades-old goal of “peace in the Middle East” (not to mention nuclear bomb-free) will be reached in our lifetimes.
 
Source: Agence France-Presse