DUE TO TENSION WITH N. KOREA
LOS ANGELES – In light of the recent escalating nuclear tension between the United States and North Korea, the Pentagon has decided to postpone a scheduled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test that’s due to be conducted in California sometime between April 7 and 13.
According to a Department of Defense (DoD) official, the agency wanted to avoid any untoward “misperception or manipulation.”
The official told AFP that DoD Secretary Chuck Hagel chose to push back the Minuteman 3 test that was set to be conducted at Vanderberg Air Force Base in California this week. The agency pushed it back to some time in May over concerns that the missile test “might be misconstrued by some as suggesting that we were intending to exacerbate the current crisis with North Korea.”
The official was quoted in an AFP report saying that the defense agency is “committed to testing our ICBMs to ensure a safe, seecure, and effective nuclear arsenal.”
The announcement from Pentagon came at the heels of recent reports that indicated that the North Korean military had loaded two intermediate-range missiles on mobile launchers and hidden them in unknown underground facilities in their eastern coast.
Reports indicated that the munitions in question are untested Musudan missiles, which can supposedly fly as far as 1,860 miles. In theory, the Musudans could go as much as 2,485 if they’re outfitted with light payload.
Considering the range of the Musudan missiles, North Korea can potentially strike at any target in South Korea, Japan, and possibly some US bases in Guam.
Because North Korea has yet to demonstrate a mission-worthy ICMB delivery system that would allow it to strike at the US mainland, experts are doubtful that it can even mount a nuke on a mid-range missile.
However, the international community remains wary of the North’s posturing. With no signs indicating that tensions would settle down any time soon, there is still the tangible risk that the situation may get out of hand.
On April 7, China, the main ally of North Korea, expressed “grave concerns” over the growing tension in the region.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a statement issued late Saturday that the Chinese government opposes “provocative words and actions by any party in this region and will not allow troublemaking on China’s doorstep.”
(With reports from AFP)
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek April 10-12, 2013 Sec. A pg.4)