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The big news this post-Memorial Day weekend is North Korea’s continued defiance in the face of international criticism. On Monday, North Korea reportedly conducted a nuclear test and fired three short-range missiles, which countries like China and Russia condemned. On Tuesday, the rogue state reportedly test-fired two more short-range missiles, and there’s talk of more launches for tomorrow. (Source)

South Korea said it would join the U.S. in intercepting ships from countries like North Korea carrying weapons. The defiant country has already stated it would consider declaring war if its ships were intercepted.

Sanctions against North Korea obliviously are ineffective.

As expected, the U.N. Security Council condemned North Korea’s actions in an emergency meeting on Memorial Day. President Barack Obama said, “By acting in blatant defiance of the United Nations Security Council, North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community. North Korea’s behavior increases tensions and undermines stability in Northeast Asia. Such provocations will only serve to deepen North Korea’s isolation.”

There’s no doubt the U.S. has the military might to do something about North Korea, but what, and more importantly, when? Last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the U.S. has 30 ground-based missile interceptors in place to counteract missiles from North Korea. He also said the Obama administration planned to shift funds away from weapons and research for future conflicts and focus on weapons needed for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 
Earlier this month, North Korea said it would launch a communications satellite sometime during the first week of April. The Associated Press reports that the U.S., Japan, and South Korea will be monitoring the launch.

The U.S. has sent missile-destroying ships to watch the situation. Japan has deployed Patriot missiles around Tokyo and interceptor-armed warships near the country, and South Korea is sending its Aegis-equipped destroyer to the area.

All three countries suspect North Korea is using the launch as a cover to test long-range missile technology, which would result in United Nations sanctions. After failing to give notification for previous launches, which the U.N. called dangerous and provocative, North Korea is providing ample warning this time around. North Korea knows the launch violates U.N. resolutions, but hopes issuing a warning will keep negative comments and admonitions to a minimum and provide China and Russia with an incentive to also buck U.N. resolutions.

Additionally, North Korea has detained a South Korean worker after he criticized the government, increasing tension between the two countries.

On Sunday, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the U.S. will not intercept the rocket.

“I think if we had an aberrant missile, one that was headed for Hawaii, that looked like it was headed for Hawaii or something like that, we might consider it,” Gates said on FOX News Sunday. “But I don’t think we have any plans to do anything like that at this point.”

 
Earlier this week, North Korea threatened to go to war if any country shot down its planned communications satellite launch. A South Korean source reports the launch would take place between April 4 and 8. It doesn’t matter whether North Korea has the means to back up the threat. The point is this: North Korea is hostile, assertive, and willing to defy the U.N., the United States, and the world.

Ken McIntyre at the Heritage Foundation blog reviews related news. He writes:

“North Korea claims it’s merely preparing to send a satellite into space. But U.S. and South Korea officials, an Agence France-Presse dispatch underscores, contend the ‘real purpose is to test a missile which could theoretically reach the state of Alaska.’

“On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs didn’t radiate Adm. Keating’s confidence. President Obama, Gibbs said, is going to weigh various factors in deciding whether to keep developing a missile-defense system, ‘including whether or not the system worked.’…In fact, Heritage missile-defense expert Baker Spring says, the Missile Defense Agency’s field tests put the success rate for ‘hit-to-kill’ technology at roughly 80 percent. MDA interceptors shot down target missiles in 38 of 47 attempts since 2001.”

Perhaps if North Korea successfully launches a missile capable of reaching the U.S., the Obama administration would make missile defense a top priority. As Heritage national security expert James Jay Carafano says, abandoning missile defense at this point would make us look weak and inept. Appearing weak in the face of a growing nuclear threat is no way to keep the homeland or the world safe.

 
Last month, North Korea successfully launched its first homemade satellite and plans to launch a communications satellite – for peaceful scientific purposes, it claims. But the U.S. and other countries suspect North Korea is test-firing a long-range ballistic missile. Admiral Timothy Keating, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, said the U.S. would be ready, willing, and able to shoot down the communications satellite if commanded.

Today North Korea said point blank it would retaliate against any country that intercepted its communications satellite launch. (Source)

A spokesman of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army said, “Shooting our satellite for peaceful purposes will precisely mean a war.”

Even if the launch merely is a communications satellite, it would violate U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Meanwhile, North Korea has sealed its border and cut a military hotline as the U.S. and South Korea performs military drills. The U.S. has maintained a presence in South Korea in the event of a North Korean invasion. (Source)

 
UPI reports that South Korea is ready to build a radar missile defense shield, with a projected launch date of 2012.

This news comes in the wake of North Korea’s rumored plans to test-fire a missile that might have the capacity to reach the western part of the United States. Last year, 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.

Sources reported that South Korea’s new system would monitor, track, and intercept incoming missiles from North Korea. An unnamed source added, “The DAPA concluded negotiations with foreign bidders over the selection of the early-warning radar systems last week and believes the Israeli radar is the most suitable for the country’s theater missile shield in terms of price and capabilities.”

South Korea would be wise to shore up its defenses. Last year, it was reported that North Korea was building a missile launch site capable of firing advanced rockets.

•••• The Korea Times reports that the U.S. and South Korea will meet to discuss rogue state North Korea and other issues. President Barack Obama will select an envoy to North Korea, who will have to deal with that country’s obstinate leaders. (The Korea Times)

•••• The discussion comes just in time. Sources report that North Korea is set to test-launch a ballistic missile capable of reaching Alaska and perhaps the West Coast.

A Korea Institute for Defense director, Baek Seung-joo said, “The missile is pointing at Obama. North Korea thinks that with such gestures they can control U.S. foreign policy.” (LA Times)

•••• Russia and NATO disagree over Russia’s plans to base troops in the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia.

“The short version of this is that they agreed to disagree…The exchange of views on Georgia was very frank, was very clear, and certainly there was not a meeting of minds on that issue,” said a military alliance spokesman. (Tehran Times)

Last year, Russia invaded Georgia after the country invaded South Ossetia. Weeks after the violence, Russia and Georgia negotiated a cease-fire. Russia claimed troops that remained in the region afterward were peacekeepers and part of the cease-fire agreement.

 
Last year, several sources reported that North Korea was 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 was 80 percent complete. 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.

According to the Associated Press, North Korea may be preparing to test-fire a missile that might have the capacity to reach the western part of the United States. While it is believed that North Korea has developed nuclear weapons, the U.S. does not believe the country has the technology to develop the kind of light-weight warhead that can be mounted on a missile.

North Korea is hoping the missile test will influence President Barack Obama in his dealings with the country. Last year, 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.

 
** Missile Defense Agency director Army Lt. General Patrick J. O’Reilly announced that it successfully fired the Airborne Laser megawatt-class weapons system through the aircraft turret during ground tests at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Download the press release (PDF) for details.

** Although the upper chamber of the Czech Republic’s parliament recently approved the missile defense base deal reached between the Czech Republic and the U.S., the lower house will need to approve the deal before preparations can begin.

Missile defense base plans for the Czech Republic and Poland cannot go forward until both houses of parliaments approve the agreements. (AP)

** South Korea is gearing up to guard against missile attacks from North Korea. The country’s air force has received the first shipment of Patriot missiles from Germany. These used missiles, made in the U.S., will replace South Korea’s aging Nike air defense missiles.

Like Russia, North Korea views South Korea’s plans to defend itself as a threat. Consequently, North Korea has announced “strict curbs on cross-border movements from December 1.” (AFP)

** Boeing’s Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) missile defense operations in Alaska have accounted for over $246 million for the state, according to a new study. Operations resulted in about $52 million in payroll, $72 million in household earnings, and $9 million in state and local taxes.

From the study:

“Of particular interest is the effect in rural areas of Alaska, where the economic activity stimulated by Boeing has offered stable, high-paying employment for residents whose options are very limited,” Hans Geier, an economics professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks said in the report. “This has allowed many families to remain in these local and rural communities, supporting property values, preserving indigenous businesses, local governments and other services.” (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)

 
Earlier this week, we reported that North Korea is updating a missile launch site located on the coast of North Hamkyong to possibly test-launch a Taepodong-2. A South Korean newspaper has reported that North Korea  fired two short-range missiles into the Yellow Sea, international waters.

The launch threatens a disarmament agreement that’s already stalling. The U.S. wants North Korea to accept a verification system for its nuclear weapons, and the country wants the U.S. to remove it from a state terrorist sponsors list. Neither side has budged. U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill was in Pyongyang to work on the deal. (Source: AFP)