THE NORTH KOREAN SHOWDOWN RATCHETS UP
Mark Thompson
Time, June 22, 2009
North Korea would like to test missiles and advance its nuclear program, while smuggling arms to some potentially bad actors for extra cash. The United States would like North Korea to stop doing all of those things. Neither side is particularly interested in finding out what happens should the other press the issue. And thus North Korea and the U.S. find themselves in a very strange kabuki war. Pyongyang is plainly the instigator, continuing its rash of missile and nuclear tests while apparently seeking hard currency by peddling weapons to all buyers. Like automated chess pieces, U.S. military assets have responded by moving into place: to thwart any missile launch, ground-based missile defenses are being deployed to Hawaii, and a nearly $1 billion, 10-story seaborne missile radar has been dispatched to keep an eye peeled for any missile launch from North Korea. It would clearly be a dumb move for North Korea to launch a missile toward the U.S. Its long-range Taepodong 2 has had multiple failures and even when it works is limited to a range of only 4,000 miles, about 500 short of Hawaii. (The longest ranging U.S. missile can travel more than 6,000 miles.) But just because it's foolish doesn't mean the North Koreans — hardly a predictable bunch — won't consider it.
As a result, it's been a busy weekend for U.S. intelligence. Spy planes and satellites are monitoring launch preparations at several North Korean launch sites while other U.S. surveillance platforms are also following the progress of the Kang Nam, a North Korean vessel suspected of ferrying banned arms, missiles or nuclear components. The destroyer USS John S. McCain — named for the father and grandfather of the Arizona senator, both admirals — is trailing the 2000-ton vessel. According to South Korean television, the ship is headed to Myanmar, a nation run by a military dictatorship and suspected long-time buyer of North Korean weaponry. "If we have hard evidence" that the ship is carrying banned weaponry, Sen. John McCain told CBS on Sunday, "I think we should board it."
Mark Thompson
Time, June 22, 2009
North Korea would like to test missiles and advance its nuclear program, while smuggling arms to some potentially bad actors for extra cash. The United States would like North Korea to stop doing all of those things. Neither side is particularly interested in finding out what happens should the other press the issue. And thus North Korea and the U.S. find themselves in a very strange kabuki war. Pyongyang is plainly the instigator, continuing its rash of missile and nuclear tests while apparently seeking hard currency by peddling weapons to all buyers. Like automated chess pieces, U.S. military assets have responded by moving into place: to thwart any missile launch, ground-based missile defenses are being deployed to Hawaii, and a nearly $1 billion, 10-story seaborne missile radar has been dispatched to keep an eye peeled for any missile launch from North Korea. It would clearly be a dumb move for North Korea to launch a missile toward the U.S. Its long-range Taepodong 2 has had multiple failures and even when it works is limited to a range of only 4,000 miles, about 500 short of Hawaii. (The longest ranging U.S. missile can travel more than 6,000 miles.) But just because it's foolish doesn't mean the North Koreans — hardly a predictable bunch — won't consider it.
As a result, it's been a busy weekend for U.S. intelligence. Spy planes and satellites are monitoring launch preparations at several North Korean launch sites while other U.S. surveillance platforms are also following the progress of the Kang Nam, a North Korean vessel suspected of ferrying banned arms, missiles or nuclear components. The destroyer USS John S. McCain — named for the father and grandfather of the Arizona senator, both admirals — is trailing the 2000-ton vessel. According to South Korean television, the ship is headed to Myanmar, a nation run by a military dictatorship and suspected long-time buyer of North Korean weaponry. "If we have hard evidence" that the ship is carrying banned weaponry, Sen. John McCain told CBS on Sunday, "I think we should board it."
(...) [artículo aquí]
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