Japan Readies Missile Defense System (N. Korea missile launch)

[Coventina]

Source: Washington Post

TOKYO, March 27 -- Japan ordered its military on Friday to destroy a North Korean missile or its debris, if the launch fails and falling pieces of the rocket seem to imperil Japanese territory.

Japan ordered two destroyers equipped with American-built Aegis anti-missile systems into the Sea of Japan, and said it would soon move Patriot land-to-air missiles to the country's northern coast, over which the North Korean rocket is likely to fly.

The orders punctuated a week of rising tensions in Northeast Asia, as North Korea moved its rocket to a launchpad and warned the outside world not to interfere or impose sanctions for its planned launch of what it describes as a "communications satellite." The launch is scheduled for sometime between April 4 and 8.

Japan, South Korea and the United States have repeatedly asked North Korea to cancel the launch, calling it a provocative pretext for the test of a long-range ballistic missile, which may be able to strike Alaska. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the launch could harm talks aimed at helping North Korea with food and fuel in return for abandoning nuclear weapons.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/27/AR2009032700501.html?hpid=topnews

[bongbong]

1. Beauty Queen To The Rescue

"... which may be able to strike Alaska."

Somebody better get Sarah Palin stronger glasses so she can see N. Korea (as well as Russia) so that we are protected.