GhostOfCaptSpaulding
07-02-2009, 10:26 AM
[offsite:2bhw9ujo](2nd LD) N. Korean rocket could potentially hit half the U.S.: American scientists
SEOUL, Jul 02, 2009 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- The long-range rocket North Korea launched in April could be converted into a ballistic missile capable of striking half of the continental U.S., two American physicists have concluded in a joint study.
North Korea launched on April 5 what it claims was a rocket designed to carry a satellite into orbit. The U.S. and its allies say nothing entered orbit, calling the "Unha-2" rocket a disguised ballistic missile capable of flying over 6,700km.
South Korean and U.S. officials have refrained from elaborating on the capabilities of the rocket, while media reports said the rocket flew at least 3,000km before falling into the Pacific Ocean.
MIT professor Theodore Postol and David Wright, a physicist at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), said the rocket could fly even farther -- over 10,000km -- if converted into a missile.
"The Unha launcher represents a significant advance over North Korea's previous launchers and would have the capability to reach the continental United States with a payload of one ton or more if North Korea modified it for use as a ballistic missile," they said.
"It could have a range of 10,000-10,500km, allowing it to reach Alaska, Hawaii, and roughly half of the lower 48 states," they said in an article posted this week on the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
Noting that a "first-generation plutonium warhead could have a mass of 1,000kg or more," Postol and Wright said the rocket could carry a 1-ton payload as far as 7,000-7,500km even if it completed only two of its three stages.
"This would allow it to reach Alaska and parts of Hawaii, but not the lower 48 states," they said, writing on the assumption that the rocket was not designed to carry a lightweight satellite.
TMC | (2nd LD) N. Korean rocket could potentially hit half the U.S.: American scientists (http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/-2nd-ld-n-korean-rocket-could-potentially-hit-/2009/07/01/4254567.htm)[/offsite:2bhw9ujo]
"Unha"
Hahahhahhaahhahhhha!
We'll see your ICBM and raise you one BMD system, biatch!
SEOUL, Jul 02, 2009 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- The long-range rocket North Korea launched in April could be converted into a ballistic missile capable of striking half of the continental U.S., two American physicists have concluded in a joint study.
North Korea launched on April 5 what it claims was a rocket designed to carry a satellite into orbit. The U.S. and its allies say nothing entered orbit, calling the "Unha-2" rocket a disguised ballistic missile capable of flying over 6,700km.
South Korean and U.S. officials have refrained from elaborating on the capabilities of the rocket, while media reports said the rocket flew at least 3,000km before falling into the Pacific Ocean.
MIT professor Theodore Postol and David Wright, a physicist at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), said the rocket could fly even farther -- over 10,000km -- if converted into a missile.
"The Unha launcher represents a significant advance over North Korea's previous launchers and would have the capability to reach the continental United States with a payload of one ton or more if North Korea modified it for use as a ballistic missile," they said.
"It could have a range of 10,000-10,500km, allowing it to reach Alaska, Hawaii, and roughly half of the lower 48 states," they said in an article posted this week on the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
Noting that a "first-generation plutonium warhead could have a mass of 1,000kg or more," Postol and Wright said the rocket could carry a 1-ton payload as far as 7,000-7,500km even if it completed only two of its three stages.
"This would allow it to reach Alaska and parts of Hawaii, but not the lower 48 states," they said, writing on the assumption that the rocket was not designed to carry a lightweight satellite.
TMC | (2nd LD) N. Korean rocket could potentially hit half the U.S.: American scientists (http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/-2nd-ld-n-korean-rocket-could-potentially-hit-/2009/07/01/4254567.htm)[/offsite:2bhw9ujo]
"Unha"
Hahahhahhaahhahhhha!
We'll see your ICBM and raise you one BMD system, biatch!