US delays missile test as tensions rise, source says

[Karee 4,190]

WASHINGTON – Amid mounting tensions with North Korea, the Pentagon has delayed an intercontinental ballistic missile test that had been planned for next week at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, a senior defense official told The Associated Press on Saturday.

The official said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel decided to put off the long-planned Minuteman 3 test until sometime next month because of concerns the launch could be misinterpreted and exacerbate the Korean crisis. Hagel made the decision Friday, the official said.

The test was not connected to the ongoing U.S.-South Korean military exercises that have been going on in that region and have stoked North Korean anger and fueled an escalation in threatening actions and rhetoric.

North Korea's military warned earlier this week that it was authorized to attack the U.S. using "smaller, lighter and diversified" nuclear weapons. And South Korean officials say North Korea has moved at least one missile with "considerable range" to its east coast -- possibly the untested Musudan missile, believed to have a range of 1,800 miles. U.S. officials have said the missile move suggests a North Korean launch could be imminent and thus fuels worries in the region.

Pyongyang's moves come on the heels of the North's nuclear test in February, and the launch in December of a long-range North Korean rocket that could potentially hit the continental U.S. Added to that is the uncertainty surrounding the intentions of North Korea's new young leader, Kim Jong Un.

Meanwhile, North Korea has been angered by increasing sanctions and ongoing U.S.-South Korean military exercises, which have included a broad show of force ranging from stealthy B-2 bombers and F-22 fighters to a wide array of ballistic missile defense-capable warships. The exercises are scheduled to continue through the end of the month.

This past week, the U.S. said two of the Navy's missile-defense ships were moved closer to the Korean peninsula, and a land-based system is being deployed to the Pacific territory of Guam later this month. The Pentagon last month announced longer-term plans to beef up its U.S.-based missile defenses.

While Washington is taking the North Korean threats seriously, U.S. leaders continue to say that they have seen no visible signs that the North is preparing for a large-scale attack.

The defense official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the Minuteman 3 test delay and requested anonymity, said U.S. policy continues to support the building and testing of its nuclear deterrent capabilities. And the official said the launch was not put off because of any technical problems.

The globe-circling intercontinental ballistic missiles make up one of the three legs of America's nuclear arsenal. There are about 450 Minuteman 3 missiles based in underground silos in the north-central U.S. The other two legs of the nuclear arsenal are submarine-launched ballistic missiles and weapons launched from big bombers, such as the B-52 and the stealthy B-2.

The traditional rationale for the "nuclear triad" of weaponry is that it is essential to surviving any nuclear exchange.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/04/07/us-delays-missile-test-as-tensions-rise-source-says/#ixzz2PmPBypFU

I'm trying to figure out why the U.S. would let some K-pop wannabe, dictate U.S. military policy?

[Darnell 8,478]

was it policy though, or just seasonal operational stuff?

[Karee 4,190]

was it policy though, or just seasonal operational stuff?

Apparently it's policy. There's a former VJ member that is in the Marshall Islands as part of the guidance team. He says it was a decision based on this North Korea stuff.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

was it policy though, or just seasonal operational stuff?

The smart money says they just don't want to give NK another propaganda tool. NK functions only because fearless leader is keeping the evil US from bombing the country back again to the stone age, like we did when grandpa invaded the south the first time.

[Darnell 8,478]

ya, i'm thinking it's not policy, though. just seasonal stuff, at the moment.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

This actually plays right into NK hands. Now the fat little jack off can say the US was afraid to do the missile test. We're damned if we do, damned if we don't.

[Iraqvet 68]

I think it would have pissed him off if we did.

[james&olya 1,121]

Why be unnecessarily provocative? Prior to GWB deciding to go to war against Saddam, the Iraqi dictator had ordered a picture of Bush 41 to be installed on the floor of the lobby of a large hotel in Baghdad as an insult to Bush and petty retaliation for the first gulf war. The macho posturing and subsequent actions were hugely destructive for both countries! Fearless leader may be a jack-#### but the lives of millions of South Koreans living within artillery range of the DMZ would be threatened if we carelessly provoke this idiot. Why do it?

[Iraqvet 68]

North Korean lives are at stake as well. There are many concentration camps and labor camps inside North Korea were the people are slaves, barely fed and publicly executed. He doesn't need to be provoked. He needs to be taken out along with his military. The people may be loyal to him but that is because they are afraid. As soon as he is removed and they are fed, they will be thankful and forget about that douchebag.

[james&olya 1,121]

North Korean lives are at stake as well. There are many concentration camps and labor camps inside North Korea were the people are slaves, barely fed and publicly executed. He doesn't need to be provoked. He needs to be taken out along with his military. The people may be loyal to him but that is because they are afraid. As soon as he is removed and they are fed, they will be thankful and forget about that douchebag.

You think SEAL team 6 is up to this job? I doubt that any sane chief executive would consider ordering such a strike knowing that if things went wrong millions of innocent lives could be lost. What would you do if you were president?

[Iraqvet 68]

You think SEAL team 6 is up to this job? I doubt that any sane chief executive would consider ordering such a strike knowing that if things went wrong millions of innocent lives could be lost. What would you do if you were president?

Try to get him to move most of his military south near the DMZ. Coordinate with China so we can stage in the north. Have warships on both sides of the pennisula. There are alot of innocent lives that will be lost. Or i should say, there has already been to many innocent lives lost both on the north and south. If you can provoke him enough to move his military south, within a few days most of them will be gone. He knows that if he provokes a war that his days will be done. With that kind of mobilization he may reconsider and a shot may never be fired. That country needs change. Those North Koreans have been cut off from the world and have been starved from everything. I think it is sad when people dont give a ####### about it.

Edited April 9, 2013 by Iraqvet

[mota bhai 2,675]

Edited with a better image.

Edited April 9, 2013 by amriki bhai

[Karee 4,190]

A picture worth a 1000 words.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

North Korea is doing its part to save the world from global warming.

[Karee 4,190]

North Korea is doing its part to save the world from global warming.