North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is preparing to unveil a missile capable of striking mainland U.S., according to government sources in neighbouring South Korea.

The missile has been spotted by reconnaissance satellites on a government base near the North Korean capital Pyongyang.

Experts who have analysed footage of the missile say it is 130 feet long and equipped with boosters that would give it a range of 6,200 miles.

Pyongyang is less than 6,000 miles from the coast of California.

Enlarge

This March 20 satellite image shows a North Korean rocket launch pad in Tongchang-ri. It's feared the launch will be used to test a long-range missile

According to South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper, experts are unable to confirm if the missile is functional, or a very realistic fake.

But the discovery will concern neighbouring countries, already alarmed by Kim Jong-un's plans to launch a rocket in mid April.

Read more: http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz1r0JZ60RT

couple of questions

1) who supplies North Korea with the Parts to build ?

2) who supplies the intelligents to build these weapons ?

3) who trains the people to operate/build these weapons?

there must be supporting countries who work along side N Korea importing goods into the country?

China.

There are reports that Iran is working with them and could end up with the same technology not far in the future.

Let's hope that if Kim Jong-un has such a missile, he does unveil it. It'd be much more worrying if he had such a missile and didn't unveil it.

Pakistan has also been rumored to have sold them parts and expertise.

So this PINK axis (Pakistan, Iran, North Korea) is the real terror threat, not Afghanistan?

It'll keep the military machine occupied for a few more years.

It'll keep the military machine occupied for a few more years.

The Big O did promise jobs after all

It'll keep the military machine occupied for a few more years.

The Big O did promise jobs after all

Is that "The Big Zero"?

It'll keep the military machine occupied for a few more years.

The Big O did promise jobs after all

Is that "The Big Zero"?

One and the same

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1194660/1/.html

NK has opened a five-day launch window, and is apparently going to televise the launch live (I do hope it fizzles out!). Hilary, predictably, is doing her nut.

Kim Jong-un is going up on the next rocket to show his confidence in the Party's technology . (Note that the next, like tomorrow, never comes).

Let's hope that if Kim Jong-un has such a missile, he does unveil it. It'd be much more worrying if he had such a missile and didn't unveil it.

That's the crux of Dr Stangelove

SC

It went up... and it came down again.... VERY quickly!

It went up... and it came down again.... VERY quickly!

Here is the video released !!

China.

Definitely not. DPRK's posturing is causing as much concern to China as the west. If DPRK puts anything into motion in relation to its threat to reduce parts of ROK to ashes, for example, China will drop them like a sack of hot spuds. (And DPRK knows that as well, which is why the threat is meaningless posturing.) However, they sure like to push the boundaries, and there's no doubt they'll be reaching into some small bag of tricks.

China has, and has always had, one interest and one interest only.... what's good for China. Forget the politics, forget the theorising; just remember... China is eternal, and the rest of the world exists to serve China.

DPRK has this in common with Iran, unpredictability. This is why, though always material for comedy, they both have to be watched.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17867174

The missiles DPRK displays in their grand parades are thought to be fakes.

North Korea will perhaps someday produce a missile capable of reaching the US if carried by airmail, but I doubt their technological competence otherwise. They can do well enough to make a bomb that sets off the right kind of tremors, but if they ever used it they would undoubtedly damage themselves as much as or more than any other country.

Don't doubt it, this is the one area that N.K has been spending resources on. (and are good at)

It is currently believed to be a mock-up, but often these mockups are based on studies that become realized a few years later.

It is not far fetched to believe this is a missile in being.

The next and ultimate goal is multiple re-entry vehicles

http://forum.keypubl...ad.php?t=116061

Don't doubt it, this is the one area that N.K has been spending resources on. (and are good at)

It is currently believed to be a mock-up, but often these mockups are based on studies that become realized a few years later.

It is not far fetched to believe this is a missile in being.

The next and ultimate goal is multiple re-entry vehicles

http://forum.keypubl...ad.php?t=116061

Maybe they need to stop buying that "Made in China" junk.

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13 April 2012 Last updated at 13:14 GMT

North Korea's keenly watched rocket launch has failed, Pyongyang has confirmed.

The rocket - seen by many as a banned test of long-range missile technology - was launched from north-west North Korea early on Friday.

The US, Japan and South Korea say it flew only for a short time before breaking up and crashing into waters off the Korean peninsula.

North Korea said its scientists were assessing what had caused the failure.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...d-asia-17698438