North Korea launches a missile:
North Korea defied the United States, its allies and a series of U.N. resolutions by launching a rocket on Sunday that it said propelled a satellite into space but that much of the world viewed as an effort to prove it is edging toward the capability to shoot a nuclear warhead on a longer-range missile.
The launching drew swift international condemnation and prompted the U.N. Security Council to convene an emergency meeting on Sunday in which the United States, Japan and South Korea vowed to penalize the North.
North Korea’s Eunha-2 rocket blasted off from its Musudan-ri launching site on its east coast at 11:20 a.m. local time on Sunday and successfully placed a satellite into orbit nine minutes later, said the North’s official news agency, KCNA.
But Lee Sang-hee, the defense minister of South Korea, told a parliamentary hearing that the rocket “appears to have failed to put a satellite into orbit.” Mr. Lee said that all of the rocket’s three stages appeared to have fallen into the sea. If the launching was successful, the third stage, which thrusts the satellite into orbit, should have remained in orbit, according to rocket experts.
We live in interesting times.
Englischlehrer
man…it’s actually good for Obama to be in Europe now to have a chance to face to face talk to some key players before heading back in a day or two.
ps had a nice chicken peanut-curry with green beans at a thai restaurant after a Sunday stroll in the Black Forest with 3 friends.
pss how overextended can America be to maintain its influence without snapping at its center?
rob
Maybe Kim Jong Crazy was upset because he didn’t receive his invite to the party that was going on in London and the surrounding countries this past week- with the new hot shot US Prez and his beautiful wife. And he didn’t get a video Ipod.
Paulie Chestnuts
The spirit of the 2nd Amendment, applied globally, compels me to encourage the prospect of all nations being able to defend themselves from the U.S., which is still the only nation to have dropped an atomic bomb on another country.
wilfred
How dare they? Fuckers.
Penalties? How about dropping a bunch of white phosphorus and blowing up their entire infra-structure. You don;t want these things to get out of hand. First disobedience, than in bed with your wife, or something.
Robertdsc-iphone
And to think the GOP laughed (and cried foul) when Joe Biden predicted that if elected, Obama would be tested early.
4tehlulz
Call me when they launch two in a row without blowing up. Then I may be impressed.
calipygian
Newtie Newt was on FNS and flogging the deep thinking wingnut "oh my god Im shitting my pants Im so scared" issue du jour: Electromagnetic Pulse weapons, and he explicitly linked it to the North Korea missile launch.
How assholes like Gingrich think that a country exploding a nuclear weapon in the atmosphere to take out our electrical grid wouldn’t be treated as if that nuclear weapon had taken out Chicago is incomprehensible to me.
Also – Chris Wallace came out very much pro-mutual assured destruction while questioning David Axelrod, the hatred of which very much informed Reagan’s enthusiasm for missile defense.
I have to stop trying to understand wingnut thinking.
And, in an added bit of ignorant hilarity, Billy Kristol was on the Big Thinker Panel after and declared the test a success. When corrected, he said it didn’t matter that the third stage failed because the third stage doesn’t have to go into space in order to deliver a warhead to target. Billy is a lot of things, first among them a wanker, but rocket scientist he ain’t.
toujoursdan
I expect lots of screaming and shouting by the west and that’s about it. Sanctions aren’t going to be effective give that 90% of DPRKs trade is with China and Russia.
Beyond that the western powers can’t do much as long as China protects and supports the DPRK. They have veto power on the security council and it is in China’s economic and military sphere of interest, so any military intervention would be perceived as an attack on China.
It’s in China’s best interest to protect and support the DPRK because it would be a nightmare scenario for them if that regime collapses and refugees cross the Amnok River by the millions. I am sure what happens in DPRK keeps the Chinese leadership up at night as it is.
So we are at a stalemate.
JL
@calipygian: It’s all about war with Fox News. It’s how they increase their ratings. You are a brave person just to sit through their nonsense.
Cat Lady
No matter how bad it is, just imagine McCain and Palin in charge.
That is all.
kommrade reproductive vigor
@calipygian: Now, now. I’m sure they were equally alarmed when No. Ko. tested an actual nuke.
As for Kristol Meth, we’re talking about a man who thinks he’s successfully produced a newspaper column after he drools over his keyboard for a few hours.
I swear these asshats do more cheerleading for the enemy than an entire bureau of propagandists.
Mike in NC
Can we have a contest to see which wingnut will demand Obama nuke North Korea off the face of the earth before lunchtime today? Krauthammer? Malkin? Kristol? Yeah, it’s still early…
Observer
Not my problem.
It’s Soul’s and Tokyo’s. Anytime they want to remove the sword dangling by a horsehair over their head they’ll do so.
I have zero concern that Anchorage or Seattle will be vaporized the Kriminal Kim Kountry Klub anytime soon.
"Stern and resolute response". South Korea… still crazy after all these years.
Ejoiner
I’m currently reading "War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning" by Chris Hedges. Its painful to read – sick, tragic and (the worst) absolutely true. It could also be the slogan and blueprint for Fox News. And most Americans (although the book is mostly about his experiences in other nations).
Andrew
Given that the ultimate low cost weapons delivery system already exists (codename: smuggled on a boat), I can’t say that I’m particularly scared of ballistic missiles.
Seriously, what’s the big deal with missiles? For all practical purposes, they are a defensive only weapon. If NK launches a missile or 12 at us, they know they will be vaporized, so they won’t.
anonevent
But isn’t Obama taking on too much by having North Korea fire this missile? Shouldn’t he be doing only one thing at a time? Isn’t the job of the president too critical to be spreading himself so thin?
dslak
@anonevent: David Brooks, is that you? How’s your column about leftist rhetoric and activists being just as violent as those on the right going?
rachel
Meanwhile here in Seoul, it was just another day. Met some friends for brunch and shopping and didn’t bother to talk about North Korea’s rocket even once.
anonevent
@dslak: I was trying to be sarcastic about those who falsely argue that the president is trying to do too much. Obama can’t control everything going on, and must deal with all the issues, not just one or two. I’ll have to try for more sarcasm next time.
Just Some Fuckhead
I’m with Wilfred. We gotta do something drastic. How about we send our rightwing revolutionaries over there? After a few random mass shootings, the NoKos will be ready to deal.
dslak
@anonevent: Yes, and that argument was given its first mainstream airing in David Brooks’ NYT column.
MattF
The Inspector O novels by the pseudonymous James Church give a good and scary view of life in North Korea. They suggest that one should be more worried about a complete chaotic collapse than about an evil North Korean cabal plotting to take over the world.
gbear
Pam’s House Blend has the text of Obama’s response to the missle test. He was speaking in Prague. It is good to finally have a sane grownup speaking for us.
anonevent
BTW, love the context sensitive ads – at least that’s what it looks like. You too can be part of the International Korean dating scene. Even if I can’t use them, the ads are still far more entertaining that PJM.
gwangung
North Korean, I would say. Nobody in South Korea would be desperate enough to go with anyone (usually right wing) employing those services…
kommrade reproductive vigor
@Just Some Fuckhead: Oh, I thought you meant dropping them on NK so fRighty juice splattered everywhere, which would constitute biological warfare, which would be WRONG.
J.D. Rhoades
@Andrew
Exactly. Kim is running around the neighborhood yelling "look! I haz a rifle!" While the West has a battery of howitzers zeroed in on his house. He’s crazy but not suicidal.
euronews 24
The United States and the European Union say North Korea’s missile launch is a threat to neighbors and demands a response from world nations.
A statement from U.S. and EU leaders calls on North Korea to abandon all nuclear weapons and cease threatening behavior.’
They said North Korea’s development of a ballistic missile capability is aimed at providing it with the ability to threaten countries near and far with weapons of mass destruction.
The leaders also said the missile launch demands a response from the international community, including from the U.N. Security Council, to demonstrate that its resolutions cannot be defied with impunity.
The Security Council meets later Sunday in New York.
Andrew
We need more Kim Jong Lolcats.
I think it’s even less worse than what you propose. It’s really like Kim running around with a rifle that takes several days to prepare to fire, while we watch.
Brian J
I just have to wonder what else North Korea might be doing instead of launching missiles–planting a garden, having a country-wide car wash, a Pampered Chef party, learning to speak Italian, playing tennis–if only Barack Obama had done those town hall forums with John McCain and not launched his stimulus package, expanded health insurance for kids, and signed the Lily Ledbetter legislation into law. I mean, isn’t it obvious how these things made North Korea angry?
gnomedad
@gbear:
One of the things that drove me craziest about Bush is that he could start two wars in the name of protecting us, yet neglected the loose nuclear materials issue and almost no one called him on it. Finally a president who understands what’s important.
Bootlegger
@Mike in NC:
Mark Sanford and The Newt came pretty damned close. Both said we should have shot the rocket down.
J.D. Rhoades
@Andrew: Thanks for that article. I hadn’t known the problems a liquid fueled missile would have for the user.
JL
@Brian J: Starving their people.
Hyperion
@Ejoiner:
i can’t figure this guy out. i have not read this book but his current screed against atheists is puzzling. he actually seems to believe that Sam Harris is as scary as religious crazies.
Brian J
@JL:
I didn’t mean to make light of the plight of regular North Koreans. If there’s one group of people that should die cold, naked, alone, with a salt shower pouring down on open wounds for what they’ve done to their own people, it’s those in charge of the government in North Korea, particularly that little piece of shit Kim Jong Il.
I was trying to poke fun at the likely response from wingnuts, who will somehow, some way, blame this on Obama.
Martin
Doesn’t matter how reliable it is, or whether they failed to actually reach orbit. They can hit (approximately) any place on earth now, which means they are a threat to more than just South Korea and Japan.
That wouldn’t necessarily be a problem if their leadership wasn’t completely insane.
If we could actually hit it, which is far from a given. Remember, our anti-missile tech (which is hardly reliable itself) is designed to shoot down incoming missiles, which this wasn’t. It’s not clear if we can shoot down missiles headed for orbit – that’s a whole different set of assumptions for the software.
AhabTDefenestrator
I did not like that book very much. I though that on the one hand many of his formulations were simplistic, and OTOH, he kept saying "we" about his and America’s relationship with war, to which I respond: "What do you mean "we," kemosabe?"
Svensker
@Ejoiner:
Just read it, myself. Great book.
The No Ko boogey monster is silly. Let Japan and So Ko deal with them. Meantime, Kim Jong Il (or whatever) just reminds me of a 3-year-old who didn’t get to play with the other kids and is throwing a tantrum to get attention.
The older I get, the more Quaker I get: violence mostly seems to beget more violence, which in turn begets more. And the violent actors always have a very good reason for needing to act violently. "There is no way to peace: peace IS the way."
LeaningTowardUndecided
Fear and big tits are the two entities known to reliably sell ideas and products. The right wing just has Ann Coulter and churning up fear of attacks from various piss ant nations and organizations in their arsenal.
Why would anyone be surprised at their choice of churning fear once again?
scarshapedstar
If only Presidents Clinton and Obama had done more to prevent this…
[/wingnut]
Hamza al-Oaklandi
North Korea’s rocket launch was a scientific failure but a political success.
Fringe countries such as the DPRK exercise power not so much through having overwhelming military might (a la the US or China), but by cultivating a "wild and crazy guy" image. It’s like the old New York City trick of acting like an insane person when you boarding a subway train late at night. Even a physically powerful mugger will hesitate to confront someone who is erratic and unpredictable.
North Korea has gotten attention for itself. It has rattled the world’s nerves, because it it is willing to do wild things with unclear motives. This gives it a certain level of respect, and leverage when negotiating with the US, Japan or other powers. Even though their missile fail, there will be incentives to bribe the DPRK in the hope of stopping more rocket tests.
JD Rhoades
@LeaningTowardUndecided:
Consider that stolen by me.
liberal
@Martin:
No, because—as you point out—it’s only approximate. They’re lucky if the thing works properly, let alone is half-accurate.
me
Exactly. There might not really have been a satellite on top of that rocket, it doesn’t matter. They just wanted to show that they have a working ICBM, I doubt they care about having a launch vehicle.
Doesn’t matter where you hit (as long as it’s on land), if you’ve got a nuke on top. They just say "see, we can hit the US with a nuke, don’t fuck with us".
liberal
@Hamza al-Oaklandi:
Hmm…didn’t Nixon and Kissinger attempt to cultivate that on our behalf also, at some point?
Ejoiner
I haven’t read any of his recent stuff so I have no idea where he’s coming from on those issues.
But I think that is exactly the horrible part about the whole situation – you and I (and maybe millions of others) don’t fall for this simplistic manipulation but the vast majority of people have throughout history and currently do as well. Again, its the fuel that runs outlets like Fox News and Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh.
Dennis-SGMM
WaPo published a piece about this as well. The wingnut chorus in the comments was in full song. The theme is that the DPRK launched this missile because Obama is weak and couldn’t stop them from doing so. This is going to be a recurring theme because it makes use of the wingnut hallmarks: ignorance of history, ignorance of military and geopolitical realities, a desire for pointless chest beating, and the existential threat posed by non-white people everywhere.
Dennis-SGMM
@calipygian:
ZOMG! If they busted off one of those puppies over Wall Street our major banks might become walking dead, millions in investments might be worthless, our economy might be in tatters… Whoops: too late.
Ash
@liberal: Yep, all the time. Nixon purposely acted like he was a crazy freak who had no qualms about blowing shit up. I think the whole theory certainly has some basis for working, but I’m not sure it’s exactly, ah, the most sophisticated way to go about things.
Person of Choler
Paulie Chestnuts: "…the U.S., which is still the only nation to have dropped an atomic bomb on another country."
Yeah, Kim Jong-il is just Harry Truman with a bad haircut.
Leelee for Obama
Perhaps it’s because I grew up in the 50s and 60s that I don’t quake in my boots over this. Back then, there was a real super power that had nuclear weapons actually aimed at my home city of NYC. I spent about 13 years thinking about being vaporized or worse, because someone in the Kremlin had a hissy.
North Korea is a problem for China and South Korea in the first instance. Those two countries need to step on Kim Jong Il hard, and it wouldn’t hurt if Russia sent them a note of reproval as well. The people of N. Korea are, in many cases, starving to death. Sooner or later, some of them will find their way over a border and screw up the neighborhood by becoming refugees. It’s in the best interests of the neighbors to work something out with the crazy guy.
Andrew
I hate to think it, but North Korea is basically at the point where a war that kills a significant fraction of their population but removes the leadership might actually be a good thing, because those people are dying anyway. The problem, of course, is that it would also destroy a large part of South Korea.
Phoenician in a time of Romans
In situations like North Korea, a "and maybe the horse will sing" approach seems wise. Nobody is immortal, and maybe those two will choke on pretzels. Or be forcifully choked on pretzels.
D-Chance.
A "nothing" story. The North Koreans are no threat to us. Leave it to China, Japan, and South Korea.
someguy
This is pretty insignificant. North Korea barely is a nuclear power, if they are at all. A few nukes on long range missiles really couldn’t do that much damage – though I guess it’d suck if it went off in your neighborhood. The President proposed yesterday that the U.S. needs to lead the way with respect to becoming a non-nuclear power. I stand behind him on this; we talk shit about Pakistan and everybody else but the U.S. are the only people who have ever nuked anybody else. It seems to me that we ought to be the first people to give up our nuclear weapons and power programs. Plus, you can deter sane people with a threat of nukes, but sane people aren’t going to nuke you anyhow. You can’t deter crazies. So what’s the point of having them?
TenguPhule
Fuck you.
Hawaii still hasn’t forgotten the last missile NK fired in our neighborhood.
TenguPhule
Fixed.
someguy
That’s pretty much a pantspissing answer there, Phule. You going Republican on us? I’m sure if we give ’em some economic aid and maybe ease up on all the sabre rattling they’d leave you alone. Humbler approach, right?
pattonbt
@Dennis-SGMM:
I imagine, of course, the fact that No Ko detonated a nuclear device during the Bush regime was not noted by said wingnuts.
Funny that.
TenguPhule
No, it just fucking irritates me when NK’s actions are dismissed as "someone else’s problem" because their homes aren’t in range.
Observer
They couldn’t even hit space.
You know, the really really big thing out there that makes earth smaller than the electron for a silicon atom in a sand grain among all the sand grains past, present, and future.