Holy cow, it appears that the satellite DOES reach an orbit! (495 x 588 km x 97.4 degrees) At least this is very similar to what the Chinese did back in 1970..... :hmm:
Is it confirmed now, or is it again claimed by NK? The latest news here had been debris crashing down near Philippines, which would have been pretty far for their launches. But the last times, NK news also claimed that the satellite reached orbit for the early days.
NORAD acknowledges missile launch
NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs
December 11, 2012
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - North American Aerospace Defense Command officials acknowledged today that U.S. missile warning systems detected and tracked the launch of a North Korean missile at 7:49 p.m. EST. The missile was tracked on a southerly azimuth. Initial indications are that the first stage fell into the Yellow Sea. The second stage was assessed to fall into the Philippine Sea. Initial indications are that the missile deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit. At no time was the missile or the resultant debris a threat to North America.
Is it confirmed now, or is it again claimed by NK? The latest news here had been debris crashing down near Philippines, which would have been pretty far for their launches. But the last times, NK news also claimed that the satellite reached orbit for the early days.
So, they finaly demonstrated that they can lob their nukes anywhere on the planet if they want to... Probably won't have an immediate effect, but times could get interesting... for them, mostly.
Actually, they probably don't yet have a nuke small enough to be be lobbed "anywhere" by their existing launcher. In today's environment, posing a nuclear attack threat takes some more mature technology than 60 years ago. Didn't we watch this launch preparation in almost real time, studying close-up orbital pictures of the pad and the rocket, available to the whole world? How difficult that would be for US navy, to turn the thing into rubble if a slightest sign of a real threat existed?
I'd not hold breath over a yet single successful orbital launch. But they have a potential. Good luck, DPRK. You are now star-bound too. Maybe with time your society will become better.
Especially given that this launch is very similar to the very first Chinese space launch back in April 1970..... (completely isolated nation, similar rockets, down to the songs radioed back to Earth.....)
Now who is laughing?
Never underestimate enemy, as they say.
Actually, they probably don't yet have a nuke small enough to be be lobbed "anywhere" by their existing launcher. In today's environment, posing a nuclear attack threat takes some more mature technology than 60 years ago. Didn't we watch this launch preparation in almost real time, studying close-up orbital pictures of the pad and the rocket, available to the whole world? How difficult that would be for US navy, to turn the thing into rubble if a slightest sign of a real threat existed?
You are laughing only because you are feeling safe from loons of this world. It is fool's laugh.I laugh. I laugh loud and I laugh till I turn blue. The world is a big joke and I am not sure if I laugh because I understand the joke, or I just laugh because I simply won't get it.
You do not need nukes. Chemical or biological payload is sufficient. Hell, you do not need to use it - NK is not THAT crazy to actually lob nuke or nerve gas or some highly infectious crap at New York or whatever juicy target is out there. It is enough to "merely" have ability to do it to blackmail world with it.Oh, North Korea has a rocket that worked once... terrible. They could launch it against the USA maybe... really bad...
You are laughing only because you are feeling safe from loons of this world. It is fool's laugh.
You do not need nukes. Chemical or biological payload is sufficient.
Hell, you do not need to use it - NK is not THAT crazy to actually lob nuke or nerve gas or some highly infectious crap at New York or whatever juicy target is out there. It is enough to "merely" have ability to do it to blackmail world with it.
Ever heard of power projection?