On Friday, North Korea announced its plan to launch an observation satellite into space on a rocket in the upcoming month. North Korea says the launching of this satellite is to celebrate and honor the birth of its found, Kim II Sung and the new leader’s grandfather. The launch is said, by the North, to begin between April 12th-16th.
The only problem is that the rocket used to launch the satellite is the same type of rocket used for long-range missiles. The technology is also parallel with that needed in ballistic missiles, which is said to “provide a delivery system for a nuclear weapon if the North should become able to miniaturize one for use on a warhead.”
So naturally, the U.S, Japan, and China are worried and have showed their concerns by warning North Korea that this planned launch would violate the U.N ban and the upcoming agreement that they have with the U.S. This agreement involved the U.S’ pledge to exchange food aid for nuclear concessions. So as long as they (North Korea) restrained from any nuclear or long-range missile activities and experiments, the U.S would provide aid for them. This “aid” includes 240,000 tons of food.
Evans Revere, a former State Department official for East Asia said that the North Koreans “are potting the Obama administration in a very, very difficult position,” and that “the administration would have little choice but to react in a firm way to this.”
From March 26th to March 27th, there will be an international summit held in South Korea. Obama will attend this summit in hopes of using the opportunity to apply greater diplomatic pressure on North Korea. Hopefully this pressure will be enough to cease its rocket launching plans.
If I'm not mistaken, the last time North Korea attempted to launch a missile similar to this, it did not leave the peninsula. That being said, the North Koreans have probably worked hard to not embarrass themselves again. This also means that whatever aid the United States is giving them will not be given to the people, it will probably be destroyed. The North Koreans are trying to save face and act as if they are a super power when in reality the rest of the world knows that they have little strength.
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ReplyDeleteOff of what John said, I feel like this could go one of two ways:
1) Little North Korea goes crazy and surprises everyone with the fact that they actually CAN launch the satellite. Result: trouble
2) Little North Korea can't actually launch the satellite. Result: probably nothing.
I'm sure the latter is more probable.
Additionally, I have an inquiry. Why does North Korea bother to have the agreement with the US (for nuclear concessions in exchange for food) if they're not going to give the food to the people anyway? Are they trying to make the US an enemy somehow? Isn't that wasting A LOT of food?
I agree with everyone that I don't think N. Korea really is going to launch a missile successfully. If they're all isolated from everyone, they probably don't have the greatest technology to launch it. And yes off of what Hannah said, that is wasting a lot of food.. or maybe the government is just really fat and eats it all.
ReplyDeleteI assume it would be more successful than the last time, just from more experience, but as far as a long-range missile? There are so few countries that were able to progress that quickly that I doubt the N. Koreans' abilities. Think WWII Germany. They said they had fully developed nuclear missiles, then we later find out they were just shells and they were trying to use the wrong kind of Uranium to make the bombs.
ReplyDeleteThe North Koreans don't have a great history in rocket launches. The official story on the launch a few years ago is that it is still in orbit around the Earth. Everyone but the North Korean people know this is a load of bull. As of now, I wouldn't be too worried. And the government does eat all the food. Kim Jung Un is just always hungry. http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/35k4qa/
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