Launch Window Now Open For North Korean Missile

North Korea seems hellbent on launching what they say is a satellite; it’s fueled, on the launch pad, and could be fired at any time. World leaders have said that would violate a United Nations resolution and that evidence suggests North Korea is instead planning to test a Taepodong-2 missile capable of reaching Alaska. North Korea says it has the ability arm the missile with a nuke.

Japan has ordered any North Korean object entering its airspace to be shot down and South Korea vows to destroy it. Obama, trying to remain cool while in Europe says that Kim Jong Il “is not being helpful.” Hillary Clinton is with Obama on his G-20 tour, having left Joe Biden at home to make sure his $3 trillion plus budget passed. Appeaseth Obama:

“Should North Korea decide to take this action,” Obama said today, “we will work with all interested parties in the international community to take appropriate steps — to let North Korea know that it can’t threaten the safety and security of other countries with impunity.”

Obama told South Korean president Lee Myung Bak that he won’t allow North Korea to drive a wedge between them, a U.S. official said yesterday on condition of anonymity. Obama praised Lee for exercising restraint in dealing with provocations from the North. Both leaders agreed to respond to the launch by registering a firm protest with the UN. Woo. Lil’ Kim is surely shaking in his marching boots.

It doesn’t sound like Kim is afraid of UN protests. North Korea’s military this week vowed a “thunderbolt of revenge” if Japanese defense forces try to shoot down the rocket, adding to an earlier threat to wage war against Japan if it tried to intercept the missile. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada deployed guided-missile units around Tokyo on March 27 and ordered the interception of any North Korean object entering his country’s airspace.

This story is continuously developing, and Right Soup is monitoring the situation closely.

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