N. Korea marks July 4 with missile barrage
Pyongyang sends 'message to the U.S.' by firing 7 ballistic weapons
The Associated Press
updated 6:59 a.m. PT, Sat., July 4, 2009

SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles off its eastern coast Saturday, South Korea said, a violation of U.N. resolutions and an apparent message of defiance to the United States on its Independence Day.

The launches, which came two days after North Korea fired four short-range cruise missiles, will likely further escalate tensions in the region as the U.S. tries to muster support for tough enforcement of the U.N. resolution imposed on the communist regime for its May nuclear test.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said three missiles were fired early Saturday, a fourth around noon and three more in the afternoon. The Defense Ministry said that the missiles were ballistic and are believed to have flown more than 250 miles.

"Our military is fully ready to counter any North Korean threats and provocations based on strong South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

Scuds?
South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted military officials as saying the missiles appeared to be a type of Scud missile. North Korea's Scuds are considered short-range, the South's military said.

North Korea is not allowed to fire Scuds, medium-range missiles or long-range missiles under a resolution that bans any launch using ballistic missile technology. Thursday's launches, on the other hand, did not violate the resolution as they were cruise missiles rather than ballistic, according to South Korea's Foreign Ministry.

Ballistic missiles are guided during their ascent out of the atmosphere but fall freely when they descend. Cruise missiles are fired straight at a target.

The North has a record of timing missile tests for the U.S. national day, which fell on Saturday.

"The missiles were seen as part of military exercises, but North Korea also appeared to have sent a message to the U.S. through the missile launches," a senior official in South Korea's presidential said, without elaborating.

Threats
The official told The Associated Press that North Korea could fire more missiles in coming days, but said there was little possibility it could fire an intercontinental ballistic missile, as it threatened in April.

He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media.

North Korea's state news agency carried no reports on the launches. But the North had warned ships to stay away from its east coast through July 10 for military exercises — an indication it was planning launches.

The chief of U.S. Naval operations, Adm. Gary Roughead, said Saturday the American military was ready for any North Korean missile tests.

"Our ships and forces here are prepared for the tracking of the missiles and observing the activities that are going on," Roughead said after meeting Japanese military officials in Tokyo before the news of the launches.

South Korea and Japan, which are within easy range of North Korean missiles, condemned the launches as a "provocative" act that violates the U.N. resolution.

South Korea "expressed deep regret over the North's continuous behavior that escalates tensions in Northeast Asia by repeatedly defying" the resolution, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said in a statement that the launch of missiles "is a serious act of provocation against the security of neighboring countries, including Japan, and is against the resolution of the U.N Security Council."

In Beijing, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said he had no immediate comment. China is the North's closest ally.

During the U.S. Independence Day holiday in 2006, Pyongyang fired a barrage of missiles, including a long-range Taepodong-2 that broke apart and fell into the ocean less than a minute after liftoff. Those launches also came amid tensions with the U.S. over North Korea's nuclear program.

A long-range missile launch by North Korea toward the United States would further flout the U.N. sanctions resolution punishing Pyongyang for its May 25 nuclear test. The U.S. last month said it had positioned more missile defenses around Hawaii as a precaution.

But spy satellites have apparently not detected any of the preparations that would normally precede such a launch.

The North wants to show Washington that it is not yielding to pressure, and the regime is likely to save a long-range launch for later, Kim Yong-hyun, a professor at Seoul's Dongguk University and an expert on the country, said Friday.

More on North Korea

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31728902/ns/world_news-asiapacific/

Obama needs to show he is a leader and not a coward. i feel it's time we show N.Korea that U.N and the U.s means what we say. this is just another slap in the face i believe and i feel our president is to feminen to do anything about it.

Quote from Obama after April missile launch:

Apr 7, 2009 ... "Rules must be binding. Violations must be punished. Words must mean something."

Anyone think he's going to walk the walk?

Quote from Obama after April missile launch:

Apr 7, 2009 ... "Rules must be binding. Violations must be punished. Words must mean something."

Anyone think he's going to walk the walk?

I'm not going to hold my breath but i guess all we can do is wait and see.

wheres Bush when we need him lol. regardless of who likes him or who dont, we all know he would have already manned up and went after N.Korea

The UN has no balls. And I am sick of the US having to police the world.
They fired some scuds. Big Whoop. Let Japan worry about it.
If we attack North Korea what do you think China will do?
Want to risk that over some scuds in Asia?

The UN has no balls. And I am sick of the US having to police the world.
They fired some scuds. Big Whoop. Let Japan worry about it.
If we attack North Korea what do you think China will do?
Want to risk that over some scuds in Asia?

What else can china do? they already own 80% of the United States due to it's debt to them. i dont see much more they can do or take.

They launched in 2006 and Bush did nothing more than talk and call them names.
We must look further than our egos. Do you think North Korea is a real threat?
I don't think they do. Yet.
Should we watch and listen. Yes
Should we be ready absolutely.

The UN has no balls.

I agree with that....

They launched in 2006 and Bush did nothing more than talk and call them names.
We must look further than our egos. Do you think North Korea is a real threat?
I don't think they do. Yet.
Should we watch and listen. Yes
Should we be ready absolutely.

I agree with that but i think North Korea is further in the capability and technology than anyone gives them credit for.

They launched in 2006 and Bush did nothing more than talk and call them names.
We must look further than our egos. Do you think North Korea is a real threat?
I don't think they do. Yet.
Should we watch and listen. Yes
Should we be ready absolutely.

I agree. US and The only allies we have left have no way to fund something so petty. The smart thing to do is sit back and meet with the Memebers of the United Nations and go to war with N.Korea as a world Unit. It wouldnt be smart to go at them on our own with a terrible economy and two wars. If we want to reslove this, we need major backup.

I think a better resolution would have been to ignore them completely. That would have been the biggest possible slap in the face as far as N. Korea is concerned. They try to puff thier chest at the world and we completely ignore them, like the pesky step child they are.

China is big, but we have nothing to fear, our technology can take out 300,000 of them a day and they know it. They only thing they have is numbers. It wont be long till they have a good amount of money to back those numbers but that is still down the road. Because if they act up we stop paying them back and cut off china supplied products. Alot of people say china has us by the balls but the day the US stops buy chinese products is the day thier rising economy collapses. And who says we have to pay back our debt in a timely manner, we are American arent we?

Can we survive with out china made products? Yes thier is always south america.

I think a better resolution would have been to ignore them completely. That would have been the biggest possible slap in the face as far as N. Korea is concerned. They try to puff thier chest at the world and we completely ignore them, like the pesky step child they are.

China is big, but we have nothing to fear, our technology can take out 300,000 of them a day and they know it. They only thing they have is numbers. It wont be long till they have a good amount of money to back those numbers but that is still down the road. Because if they act up we stop paying them back and cut off china supplied products. Alot of people say china has us by the balls but the day the US stops buy chinese products is the day thier rising economy collapses. And who says we have to pay back our debt in a timely manner, we are American arent we?

Can we survive with out china made products? Yes thier is always south america.

Our tech didn't do so well Vietnam.... the last thing any nation should do is under estimate a potential opponent.... I don't think much is known about the Chinese military, but just saying. They have a lot of troops, but they are all in China, good place for em to be.... but how long will they stay there?

It would be nice to see more stuff being made here instead of coming from China.... but that's just a nice thought. Ignore them, I don't know.... does that not send a message that it's okay for other little puppet governments to do like wise and adopt a similar stance because the US won't even pay attention?

Ignore them, I don't know.... does that not send a message that it's okay for other little puppet governments to do like wise and adopt a similar stance because the US won't even pay attention?

The only reason they did it in the first place is to get attention. Plain and simple. To seem like they are in the game. Iraq and al qaeda have been getting at the bad guy attention for too long and N. Korea is sick of being on the back burner and forgot about. It 110% posture.

We may have failed at Veitnam but have DESTORYED iraq and afghanastan. Most of the same long range tactics and can be used in china. There are so many of them they would be concentrated too. Once the long range has dispersed them the ground attack can be successful. China could not be a infantry fight from the start like we tried to make veitnam.

The only reason they did it in the first place is to get attention. Plain and simple. To seem like they are in the game. Iraq and al qaeda have been getting at the bad guy attention for too long and N. Korea is sick of being on the back burner and forgot about. It 110% posture.

We may have failed at Veitnam but have DESTORYED iraq and afghanastan. Most of the same long range tactics and can be used in china. There are so many of them they would be concentrated too. Once the long range has dispersed them the ground attack can be successful. China could not be a infantry fight from the start like we tried to make veitnam.

N.Korea has and is under close watch, probably ever since the end of the Korean war, that actually never really ended. I can bet the blood pressure on the border between north and south is pretty high right now, as it would certainly be in the US military right now.

Iraq and that sometimes forgot about place Afghanistan are contining war zones with no real end in sight as of yet....

I'm not sure, but you seem to be theorizing that the US and China would battle it out where? In China.... neighbor next door? Assuming that China would sit back and allow the US to build up their forces like Saddam did is speculative at best.... I'm sure most dictatorships paid attention to that.

Either way, I'm not sure China would want a war with the US anymore then the US would want another war.... a third front would be very taxing for the US.... but it could happen, anything is possible in this stupid world of political egos.

We could for fun do a poll - pick the ugliest bad guy.... Saddam, Bin Laden and that creepy looking Korean guy.... :cheers:

lil b#st#rds

We are still the leaders of the free world and need to act accordingly :yessir:

We are still the leaders of the free world and need to act accordingly :yessir:

Yes, I don't think you should sit back and do nothing, ignore them at your own peril.... "Oh that dagger you stuck in my foot, " no biggie.... it's okay.... I don't mind.... I say beat that..... you can fill in the rest yourselves. :cheers:

Not really him but the words are his :yessir:

YouTube - uncensored 1944 Patton speech

I hate talking politics and hate all the crap going on in the world right now. But, I think it's about time for the UN to step up and do something.

I hate talking politics and hate all the crap going on in the world right now. But, I think it's about time for the UN to step up and do something.

:rockon::rockon:

Yes, I don't think you should sit back and do nothing, ignore them at your own peril.... "Oh that dagger you stuck in my foot, " no biggie.... it's okay.... I don't mind.... I say beat that..... you can fill in the rest yourselves. :cheers:

Thier is no peril. North Korea would be the quickest easiet fight in a long time. They are poor and would run out of steam quickly and have no where to run. They are not nuclear ready not even close. The news wants to make you think they do so it seems the have something important to report. Now china is someone to fear nuclear wise.

It was just a missle testing that they conveniently conducted on July 4th so they could say some anti american thing about it.

If we did something about every anti american thing done we would have a military operation going on in 75% of the countries on earth.

What's that North Korean guys name again..... Mentally-Lee Ill? :dunno:

Thier is no peril. North Korea would be the quickest easiet fight in a long time. They are poor and would run out of steam quickly and have no where to run. They are not nuclear ready not even close. The news wants to make you think they do so it seems the have something important to report. Now china is someone to fear nuclear wise.

It was just a missle testing that they conveniently conducted on July 4th so they could say some anti american thing about it.

If we did something about every anti american thing done we would have a military operation going on in 75% of the countries on earth.

Do you really think someone wouldn't bankroll them? I think China would in a heartbeat and if not China we have other wealthy enemies....

Can you prove they don't have nukes? They were detected by US intelligence to have a nuclear program back in the mid 80's, they produced plutonium back in 1986, George H started talks with them back in 1991 to end their nuclear program....but your right in 25+ years there is no way they could have a nuclear weapon and if they can't make their own who is to say they didn't just buy them when USSR was collapsing.

Testing on the 4th not being planned is a joke, they hate us, they hate us patrolling them, they hate the fact that no one won the first time just like we do.

Anti American (please capitalize America) is completely different from dealing with someone who have nuclear capabilities, I and most people could care less if the world hates us but it becomes an issue when they can possibly do major damage with a nuke.

Anti American (please capitalize America) is completely different from dealing with someone who have nuclear capabilities, I and most people could care less if the world hates us but it becomes an issue when they can possibly do major damage with a nuke.

Even more so when they start making aggressive gestures towards you....

Just a little in sight I got from a good freind.

I heard one of N.Koreas soldiers can woop five of our soldiers ass in a hand to hand combat. Donno if anybody else heard this.

Little angry Asian people are scary:dunno:

Just a little in sight I got from a good freind.

I heard one of N.Koreas soldiers can woop five of our soldiers ass in a hand to hand combat. Donno if anybody else heard this.

Little angry Asian people are scary:dunno:

Not something I have ever heard but I doubt it honestly.

Just a little in sight I got from a good freind.

I heard one of N.Koreas soldiers can woop five of our soldiers ass in a hand to hand combat. Donno if anybody else heard this.

Little angry Asian people are scary:dunno:

If he's still alive when I run out of ammo we can test that theory.......

If he's still alive when I run out of ammo we can test that theory.......

:lmao::lmao:

I'm by no means an expert on politics and international relations but I think we should all learn from history. It wasn't wise when the world looked the other way when Nazi Germany was building up their army. It might not be the wisest move for the no. 1 world power this day and age, the USA, to let the North Koreans do as they please. Specially as we all know they are a hostile country towards South Korea, Japan and the USA.

But with western economy the way it is right now, I'm pretty sure nothing will be done... for now.
But I do agree, if the USA does something against this now or in the future, it should count on its allies.

I'm by no means an expert on politics and international relations but I think we should all learn from history. It wasn't wise when the world looked the other way when Nazi Germany was building up their army. It might not be the wisest move for the no. 1 world power this day and age, the USA, to let the North Koreans do as they please. Specially as we all know they are a hostile country towards South Korea, Japan and the USA.

But with western economy the way it is right now, I'm pretty sure nothing will be done... for now.
But I do agree, if the USA does something against this now or in the future, it should count on its allies.

Everyone should count on it's allies when going into a battle, if we sit back and watch a communist country keep stock piling weapons and threatening others while we are making a pact with other countries to reduce our stock of weapons doesn't seem like a smart choice to me.

Everyone should count on it's allies when going into a battle, if we sit back and watch a communist country keep stock piling weapons and threatening others while we are making a pact with other countries to reduce our stock of weapons doesn't seem like a smart choice to me.

I agree and this whacko there will do just that

Exactly!! Obama should be asking N. Korea and Iran to destroy stocks of weapons, not Rusia! Rusia isn't a threat anymore I don't think, atleast not as much as these other 2 countries.

Exactly!! Obama should be asking N. Korea and Iran to destroy stocks of weapons, not Rusia! Rusia isn't a threat anymore I don't think, atleast not as much as these other 2 countries.

If we want to get rid of nuclear weapons then I believe they should be donated to countries around these threats....we got rid of them right, everyone will be happy.

I agree, these weapons are scary. I don't think NKorea has any of these large weapons though, I think they're doing it for support on the inside. Just tell the people the US surrendered to their threats.

I think donating them to neighboring countries will be very bad though...