The race for nuclear tipped missiles--an EMP weapon
Iran, partnered with NKorea, is working on upgrading its own missiles. They seek a new class with more accuracy and greater effective range. Their goal is to wed nuclear warheads to long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (LRICBMs). Although the U.N. and most Western powers know this, they are only making halfhearted attempts to prevent it.
Yet NKorea is almost there. Tweaking the Western powers--and the United States in particular--the generals in Pyongyang have dubbed their newest class missile the"Los Angeles" rocket. Of course they are implying that they intend (if given half the chance) to mate their growing nuclear arsenal with perfected missiles and threaten the West Coast of the United States with nuclear annihilation.
Yet NKorea actually has no intention of doing this. Their actual plan is much more diabolical.
Kim Jong-il's "Los Angeles" missile
Over the years, NKorea has built and tested many variations of missiles, always seeking to improve their range.
The last such test occurred during the summer of 2009. According to the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper in Seoul, the NKorean missile was launched from the Dongchang-ni launch site located on North Korea's west coast. The missile was an improved version of the Taepodong-2 fired in April of that same year.
The missile was designed to have an effective reach of 4,000 miles and could threaten Hawaii, Alaska and the US West Coast.
Although their LRICBM failed, the NKoreans haven't given up.
The Taep'o-dong-2 is the missile that intelligence data indicates NKorea is currently developing. Both NKorea and Iran (Iran's version is the Shahab-5) are building rockets with a range in excess of 4,000 miles. Experts theorize that the rocket performance may be similar to the older Soviet SS-5 missiles.
The consequences
Defending the US from a nuclear EMP weapon launched by a rogue state like NKorea (or even Iran) is no easy task. Why is this? From a technological perspective, America has painted itself into a corner and is now extremely vulnerable to such an attack.
Although the US is a superpower, its economy and infrastructure is very fragile. The attack on 911 proved that America can be defeated if just a few things go terribly wrong: the stand down of commercial aviation for about one week was sufficient to throw the entire American economy into a tailspin.
An EMP attack would be magnitudes worse than 911. The economy would be thrown into a severe depression within 24 hours. Food riots would break out and martial law declared across the country. Potable water would become scarce and urban areas potential deathtraps.
All radio, television and most means of communication would be out for weeks or months. In one great blow America would be reduced to a Third World nation in a matter of hours.
This nightmare is the dream that NKorea is working hard to achieve.
Iran, partnered with NKorea, is working on upgrading its own missiles. They seek a new class with more accuracy and greater effective range. Their goal is to wed nuclear warheads to long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (LRICBMs). Although the U.N. and most Western powers know this, they are only making halfhearted attempts to prevent it.
Yet NKorea is almost there. Tweaking the Western powers--and the United States in particular--the generals in Pyongyang have dubbed their newest class missile the"Los Angeles" rocket. Of course they are implying that they intend (if given half the chance) to mate their growing nuclear arsenal with perfected missiles and threaten the West Coast of the United States with nuclear annihilation.
Yet NKorea actually has no intention of doing this. Their actual plan is much more diabolical.
Over the years, NKorea has built and tested many variations of missiles, always seeking to improve their range.
The last such test occurred during the summer of 2009. According to the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper in Seoul, the NKorean missile was launched from the Dongchang-ni launch site located on North Korea's west coast. The missile was an improved version of the Taepodong-2 fired in April of that same year.
The missile was designed to have an effective reach of 4,000 miles and could threaten Hawaii, Alaska and the US West Coast.
Although their LRICBM failed, the NKoreans haven't given up.
The Taep'o-dong-2 is the missile that intelligence data indicates NKorea is currently developing. Both NKorea and Iran (Iran's version is the Shahab-5) are building rockets with a range in excess of 4,000 miles. Experts theorize that the rocket performance may be similar to the older Soviet SS-5 missiles.
The consequences
Defending the US from a nuclear EMP weapon launched by a rogue state like NKorea (or even Iran) is no easy task. Why is this? From a technological perspective, America has painted itself into a corner and is now extremely vulnerable to such an attack.
Although the US is a superpower, its economy and infrastructure is very fragile. The attack on 911 proved that America can be defeated if just a few things go terribly wrong: the stand down of commercial aviation for about one week was sufficient to throw the entire American economy into a tailspin.
An EMP attack would be magnitudes worse than 911. The economy would be thrown into a severe depression within 24 hours. Food riots would break out and martial law declared across the country. Potable water would become scarce and urban areas potential deathtraps.
All radio, television and most means of communication would be out for weeks or months. In one great blow America would be reduced to a Third World nation in a matter of hours.
This nightmare is the dream that NKorea is working hard to achieve.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
