North Korea successfully launches satellite

[mr friendly guy]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20690338

North Korea defies warnings in rocket launch success

North Korea has successfully launched a long-range rocket, defying international warnings.

The Unha-3 rocket, launched at 09:49 local time (00:49 GMT), appears to have followed its planned trajectory, with stages falling in expected areas.

North Korea says a satellite has been placed in orbit; the US confirmed an object had been put into space.

South Korea, the US and Japan have condemned the launch as a disguised test of long-range missile technology.

A UN resolution passed in June 2009 after North Korea's second nuclear test banned Pyongyang from ballistic missile tests.

The US called it a "highly provocative act that threatens regional security", while UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said it was a "clear violation" of the UN resolution.

Japan has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Reports suggested this could take place later on Wednesday.

The launch comes a week ahead of the South Korean presidential election and roughly a year after the death of leader Kim Jong-il, on 17 December 2011.

'Extremely regrettable'
The three-stage rocket was launched from a site on North Korea's west coast.

"The launch of the second version of our Kwangmyongsong-3 [Unha-3] satellite from the Sohae Space Centre... on December 12 was successful," state news agency KCNA said. "The satellite has entered the orbit as planned."

The rocket had been scheduled to pass between the Korean peninsula and China, with a second stage coming down off the Philippines.

"The missile was tracked on a southerly azimuth [angle]. Initial indications are that the first stage fell into the Yellow Sea," a North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) statement said.

"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."

The Japanese government, which put its armed forces on alert ahead of the launch, said the rocket had passed over parts of Okinawa prefecture, south of the Japanese mainland.

"The missile that North Korea calls a satellite passed over Okinawa around 10:01. We launched no interception," a government statement quoted by AFP news agency said.

Japan had threatened to shoot down any debris which infringed on its territory, deploying naval vessels and land-based missile interceptors.

Its top government spokesman called the launch "extremely regrettable" and something that Japan "cannot tolerate".

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, meanwhile, called an emergency meeting of his top advisers. His foreign minister said the government strongly condemned the launch.

The US called the launch another "example of North Korea's pattern of irresponsible behaviour".

In China - which is North Korea's closest ally - Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei expressed "regret" at the launch. A commentary from state-run Xinhua news agency called on all parties to remain "cool headed" and engage in "trust-building measures".

April failure
North Korea had said two days ago that the launch could be delayed because of a technical problem, extending the window until 29 December.

South Korea, the US and other nations had urged North Korea not to go ahead, warning that it would constitute a test of long-range missile technology banned by the UN.

Washington and its allies say the rocket launches represent banned missile tests because the basic technology is the same.

North Korea is believed to be working on the development of a long-range missile capable of reaching the west coast of the US mainland.

It has not previously successfully launched a three-stage rocket. Its most recent test, in April 2012, ended in failure, when the rocket flew for only a few minutes before exploding and crashing into the sea west of the Korean peninsula.

The closed communist nation has also carried out two nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009. International talks on ending its nuclear ambitions have been stalled for several years.

Officials fear it could be working towards a missile on which a nuclear warhead could be mounted - but it is not thought to have fully developed either the missile or the warheads yet.

Surprised no one has put this up yet. It only seemed like yesterday we were laughing at them for failing to launch during their last attempt. Well it seems like they succeeded now.

[ryacko]

My guess on what happens next: it fails to turn on.

Didn't Sputnik at least put out a signal?

[mr friendly guy]

If the speculation is correct, the satellite attempt is a cover to test ballistic missile technology rather than a test for a working satellite per se, although if the satellite works, its a bonus for them.

[Lord of the Abyss]

My guess on what happens next: it fails to turn on.

Something like that.

North Korean satellite 'tumbling out of control,' US officials say

The object that North Korea sent into space on Wednesday appears to be “tumbling out of control” as it orbits the earth, U.S. officials told NBC News.

The officials said that it is indeed some kind of space vehicle, but they still haven’t been able to determine exactly what the satellite is supposed to do.

[PeZook]

Launching a satellite and testing a ballistic missile are not mutually exclusive ; The Sputnik made the US crap its pants exactly because it's only a small step from it to a warhead, and the R-7 rocket was developed from the start as an ICBM, it just happened to become one of the best space launch vehicles ever.

Same for the Atlas and Titan - both originally ICBMs.

[spaceviking]

Was there any talk about shooting the rocket out of the sky?

[Lord of the Abyss]

Was there any talk about shooting the rocket out of the sky?

From the OP:

The Japanese government, which put its armed forces on alert ahead of the launch, said the rocket had passed over parts of Okinawa prefecture, south of the Japanese mainland.

"The missile that North Korea calls a satellite passed over Okinawa around 10:01. We launched no interception," a government statement quoted by AFP news agency said.

Japan had threatened to shoot down any debris which infringed on its territory, deploying naval vessels and land-based missile interceptors.

[Aaron MkII]

Will they follow the usual pattern of "requesting" fuel oil, rice or fertilizers though?

[Surlethe]

Wow, they're finally caught up to 1957! What will they do next, make a transistor?

[Aaron MkII]

Lol, stand by for increased fear mongering. Maybe Obama should have ordered it shot down as a live fire exercise.

[spaceviking]

Well it would be a great way to demonstrate North Korea's inferiority to its people, without risking casualties.

[Aaron MkII]

Pfft! They wouldn't be told about it, unless it was done in a way that painted the US as an agressor.

[Korvan]

Japan had threatened to shoot down any debris which infringed on its territory, deploying naval vessels and land-based missile interceptors.

What kind of lameass threat is that? That's like me threatening my neighbor that I'll throw away any trash that he dumps on my lawn.

[Stark]

Wow, they're finally caught up to 1957! What will they do next, make a transistor?

Do you feel this way about any organisation achieving anything that has been done before? How is one to develop industrial, technical or organisational capability without being thus lambasted as backward?

[Alkaloid]

Don't be silly Stark. North Korea are evil, and thus to stupid to ever be competent. Like Iran. All the same we had better bomb their launch sites because they could be dangerous. But not really because they are so backwards they could never be a threat to anyone. But bomb them before they inevitably kill us all.

[Thanas]

I hope this causes South Korea to buy more German ships. (buy our subs now WITH ADDED AA capabilities). We need more money to give to Greece.

[Grumman]

Don't be silly Stark. North Korea are evil, and thus to stupid to ever be competent. Like Iran.

Not at all like Iran. You can see the difference just by looking at the world at night - despite having four times the population density of Iran, almost everywhere except the capital is dark.

[Zinegata]

WITH ADDED AA capabilities).

I know this is a tangent, but...

Why?

Is the German Navy trying to convince itself that the Kriegsmarine could have fought off Allied airpower if it only had more advanced AA weapons?

[PeZook]

I know this is a tangent, but...

Why?

Defence from helicopters is an ongoing concern for modern subs, although Thanas was probably joking

[Stark]

I know this is a tangent, but...

Why?

Is the German Navy trying to convince itself that the Kriegsmarine could have fought off Allied airpower if it only had more advanced AA weapons?

Do you have any fucking idea how stupid you look right now?

Anyway if the AA capabilities are inferior to top of the line American stuff they're obviously wasting their time and are idiots. If they WEREN'T inferior and thus useless we'd have to be terrified and bomb them in hysterical paranoia justified by vague yet entirely believed intelligence reports that play into our pre-conceived notions of personal danger and revenge.

And that'd be hilarious.

[Thanas]

I know this is a tangent, but...

Why?

Is the German Navy trying to convince itself that the Kriegsmarine could have fought off Allied airpower if it only had more advanced AA weapons?

It is a joke based on the considered 30mm autocannon on the newest batch of subs.

[Irbis]

Lol, stand by for increased fear mongering. Maybe Obama should have ordered it shot down as a live fire exercise.

Yeah, that wouldn't be an act of war or precedent or anything. Though, why I feel Romney might have well ordered this?

(buy our subs now WITH ADDED AA capabilities)

You mean, now or for the second time as the concept didn't exactly worked before?

[Thanas]

Hey, that concept back then actually worked for two months, which is pretty good concidering the circumstances.

[PeZook]

I seriously doubt the autocannon would be used to shoot down P-3Cs. It's more like the SAM masts on other subs - a weapon of last resort, to shoot down a helicopter coming in to kill you after you got yourself detected.

Plus the cannon will be mounted on a mast that is planned to house 3 UAVs, which is a much more useful thing

[Thanas]

I seriously doubt the autocannon would be used to shoot down P-3Cs. It's more like the SAM masts on other subs - a weapon of last resort, to shoot down a helicopter coming in to kill you after you got yourself detected.

Why are we still discussing a joke?