Tensions are understandably high ahead of the launch, and some sources suggest that could be as early as Saturday (April 4th) as there are indications that fuelling activities are being carried out by Pyongyang. Spy satellite images appear to show there is indeed a satellite attached to the rocket, but the US and regional allies are under no illusions that such a launch would also test ballistic missile technology, violating the UN resolution passed in 2006 in response to the underground nuclear test and repeated missile launches. North Korea can expect severe treatment by the international community should this launch go ahead.
Update: Looks like the games have begun.
10 comments:
Reminds me of an old episode of Doctor Who.
"How long did the war last?"
"Five minutes."
"THAT long?"
Shoot it down.
Stan
If North Korea want to send up a rocket, that's their business. The USA are starting to interfere way too much in world affairs.
North Korea and the rest have as much right to launch a rocket as do any other nation.
In future the USA should also be stopped from making such launches as I don't like it.
I doubt that will happen, so why should other nations be dictated to in this way?
The "high and mighty" attitude of the USA and other nations is the thing that will lead to global conflict. Keep your'e own yard in order, before messing up anyone else's.
"The USA are starting to interfere way too much in world affairs."
Starting? It took me a minute to regain my composure. ;)
There's a lot to be said for trying to keep the proliferation of nuclear weapons under control.
But it also seems to be a valid question to ask: why should only the USA (and a few other countries) be allowed to have them? And who appointed the USA as policeman of the world?
Fact of the matter is that the USA alone is responsible for almost half of all military spending of the whole world combined.
And the rest of the world has felt it.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures
World Total: 1,470,000,000,000 (2008)
United States: 651,163,000,000 (2009)
North Korea is a hostile state that threatens the the world with nuclear weapons. It starves its people and then blackmails the rest of the world into feeding its people with its nuclear capabilities.
Confronting them now by shooting down its rocket designed to test a system that can reach Europe and the U.S. is preferable to them having another means of nuclear blackmail.
Stan
It's all pretty much irrelevant at this point anyway. The U.N. so-called "emergency session" concluded with no solid resolution, which basically sends the message to N. Korea that there will be no consequences, beyond vague mutterings about sanctions that everyone knows will never be applied.
Much ado about nothing.
If you can get past the hypocrisy of nuclear arms proliferation then...cough. A sovereign state can pretty much do whatever the hell they want to so long as that act doesn't have an immediate negative consequence to their neighbor or their citizens.
At the end of the day, are we really scared of the parody that is North Korea? I don't think anyone seriously gives them that much weight.
I give them that much weight. They have nuclear weapons, and are working on a delivery system that can reach us.
If a sovereign state can do whatever it wants, we are a sovereign state that can shoot down a rocket.
Obama had the opportunity to make a real statement to the North Koreans. He did not do it. I still admire him, appreciate what he is trying to do, but do not agree with his lack of action on this issue.
Stan
If the USA are the worlds policemen...they they should act like the police... Not shoot first and ask questions later as in Iraq.
Let's not forget the "bigger picture". Russia and China wait on the sidelines and if the USA isn't careful those countries will start to really rattle their sabres. This will lead to armageddon. Mind you the demise of man is overdue anyway as these last couple of centuries he's been moving way too fast. If nature doesn't wipe us out then we'll do it ourselves.
"If a sovereign state can do whatever it wants, we are a sovereign state that can shoot down a rocket."
I think what he meant was: they can do whatever they want as long as it doesn't bother anybody else. Everybody should have a right to defend themselves. In this world that means having some powerful weapons at your disposal. The only defense against nuclear weapons is... nuclear weapons. Remember the cold war?
Problem is; not all countries are run by sensible rulers. Another problem is; who get's to decide who's sensible and who's not?
Btw: Countries the United States has bombed/invaded.
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