Looks like the network reporter got a nice trip to Hawai’i to cover…well, nothing. I hope she at least got to see some fireworks and enjoy the south swell. Sen. Inouye got to talk tough and to shake his fist at Kim Jong-il – “he is asking for trouble.” Meanwhile the U.S. prepares to launch a Minuteman III ICBM from Vandenberg on August 23. Should we run for cover?
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North Korea Fires Seven Ballistic Missles
Written by Teri Okita, CBS News, Honolulu.
July 04, 2009 04:30 PM
North Korea chose America’s July 4th holiday weekend to fire off its largest barrage of ballistic missiles in three years.
The test-firings came amid recent threats that Pyongyang would aim a missile towards Hawaii. It’s a picture-perfect July 4th in Hawaii. Few are worried about North Korea’s threat to fire a long-range missile here over the holiday weekend. The head of the US Pacific Command says there’s no cause for alarm.
“We’re well prepared to defend American citizens and defend American property,” said Commander Keating, U.S. Pacific Command.
Forty-Four-hundred miles away from the islands, North Korea fired off seven ballistic missiles from its eastern shore Saturday, in violation of a United Nations Security council resolution. Some of the weapons appear to be short-range Scuds, which, along with medium and long-range missiles, the North is banned from using. Experts don’t believe Pyongyang has the capability to hit Hawaii with a long-range missile, yet.
There’s no reason for us to be alarmed about the demonstrations of firepower North Korea’s using, but there is reason for concern for their blatant disregard for normal, accepted standards of behavior,” said Commander Keating, U.S. Pacific Command.
Over the last week, the U.S. has responded to North Korea’s threat by beefing up anti-missile defenses here in Hawaii, at sea, and on the U.S. mainland.
South Korea and Japan condemned the symbolic July 4th launches as a “provocative” act. Some say this was President Kim Jong-il’s way of flaunting his country’s military might while protesting recent U-N sanctions. But Hawaii’s senior Senator says it takes more than flexing muscle.
“I hope that Kim Jong-il realizes that because if he fires a long-range one, then he is asking for trouble,” said Senator Daniel Inouye.
Some reports say North Korea is winding down its launch activities for now, but there’s no indication they’ll re-engage in diplomatic discussions.
Source: http://kgmb9.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18878&Itemid=40
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