US: North Korea loading rocket on launch pad

Dantheman62 · 03-25-2009, 08:33 PM

WASHINGTON – U.S. officials have confirmed that North Korea is loading a Taepo Dong rocket on its east coast launch pad for the expected launch of a communications satellite early next month.

U.S. counterproliferation and intelligence officials confirmed Japanese news reports of the expected launch between April 4 and 8.

North Korea announced its intention to launch the satellite in February. Regional powers worry the claim is a cover for the launch of a long-range missile capable of reaching Alaska. National Intellgience Director Dennis Blair said earlier this month that all indications suggest North Korea will actually launch a satellite.

North Korea faked a satellite launch in 1998 to cloak a missile development test. In 2006, it launched a Taepo Dong-2 that blew up less than a minute into flight.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090325/...nkorea_missile

03-25-2009, 08:33 PM	#1
Dantheman62 Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: So. Cal. U.S. Posts: 4,205	US: North Korea loading rocket on launch pad WASHINGTON – U.S. officials have confirmed that North Korea is loading a Taepo Dong rocket on its east coast launch pad for the expected launch of a communications satellite early next month. U.S. counterproliferation and intelligence officials confirmed Japanese news reports of the expected launch between April 4 and 8. North Korea announced its intention to launch the satellite in February. Regional powers worry the claim is a cover for the launch of a long-range missile capable of reaching Alaska. National Intellgience Director Dennis Blair said earlier this month that all indications suggest North Korea will actually launch a satellite. North Korea faked a satellite launch in 1998 to cloak a missile development test. In 2006, it launched a Taepo Dong-2 that blew up less than a minute into flight. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090325/...nkorea_missile