North Korea Preps for Long-Range Missile Test
October 3rd, 2008
Last month we blogged about a report that North Korea was conducting an engine ignition test for a missile that might be capable of hitting U.S. shores. The engine may be for the Taepodong-2 missile, which reportedly has a range of 6,200 miles. According to a South Korean newspaper, North Korea is updating a missile launch site located on the coast of North Hamkyong to test-launch a long-range missile. Is it the Taepodong-2?
In 1998, North Korea test-launched a Taepodong-1 missile over Japan and a Taepodong-2 missile in 2006. The second launch failed.
Additionally, there’s a disarmament-for-aid deal in the works, and U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill is in North Korea to try to convince North and South Korea to compromise. 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. So far, North Korea refuses to allow inspections, and the U.S. says it cannot remove the country from the terrorist blacklist until it agrees to the verification.