North Korea Launch Zone Found
Spy agencies spot launch sites for N. Korean missiles
Musudan Missile / allthingsnuclear.org
BY:
U.S. and allied intelligence agencies have identified the launch zone on North Korea’s east coast where Pyongyang’s military is set to fire a salvo of missiles that risk being shot down by U.S. missile defenses in the region.
The North Koreans recently began fueling two road-mobile Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missiles located along the east coast between the cities of Wonsan and Hamhung, according to intelligence officials.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said in addition to the 2,500-mile-range Musudans the North Koreans could conduct test firings of several 620-mile-range Nodong missiles and shorter-range Scuds simultaneously as a way to thwart U.S. missile defenses.
Unlike earlier launches, the North Koreans are not expected to provide advance warning of the timing for the launches, such as announcing a sea and air closure zone, because of heightened U.S. and Japanese missile defenses.
The Pentagon has at least four missile-interceptor ships in the region equipped with SM-3 interceptors. Additionally, long-range interceptors based in Alaska and California are ready to counter any missiles fired toward the United States.
The SM-3 is capable of hitting some intermediate-range missiles but analysts say the interceptor would be stretching its capabilities in hitting a Musudan because of the high speeds of the missiles.
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