NKorean Missile Can Reach US

(Update below)

We've all read that over and over lately. The NKoreans are going to test a missile capable of reaching the US. Now what did you picture? They can nuke Los Angeles CA, Seattle WA, maybe Las Vegas NV? Well, think Juneau AK.

To say that the Bush Administration is exasperated by North Korea's provocations is an understatement. After all, the only thing worse than watching a charter member of President Bush's "Axis of Evil" thumb its nose at the international community, is not having an effective means to respond. And despite all the tough talk emanating out of Washington, the U.S. has few good options for responding to the latest bit of saber-rattling from the hermit Stalinist regime in Pyongyang, this time involving an all-too-real saber: A Taepodong 2 long-range missile, which some analysts believe may be capable of hitting Alaska, while others suggest its range may be far more limited. The U.S. has warned North Korea against test-firing the missile, and has hinted that it may even consider trying to use its own missile-defense interception system to bring it down — although both technical and geopolitical considerations militate against such an action. [emphasis mine]

I posted about this before and, as far as I could tell, Alaska was the maximum reach they had. I explain in that post and included the graphic from it above. But when you're objective is to frighten people and bang the war drums, "reach the US" is much more ominous. I bet some people thought Washington DC was a potential target.

I encourage you to check the TIME article. Its very good.

(read more)

Wanna see Juneau? It's beautiful. I've lived there and would really hate to see it obliterated.



Update: A new report says this missile has a range up to 6,700 km. The outer ring on the graphic above is 4,000 km, so this missile is capable of reaching Alaska, but not capable of reaching any of the lower 48 states. That's really little consolation, but it isn't a doomsday scenario either. Unless it is shot at Alaska. It obviously would be a doomsday scenario for residents there.