Norks may launch missile test this weekend

Reuters:

The United States on Friday warned North Korea against conducting a "provocative" intercontinental missile test after U.S. officials said there were signs a test could take place as early as this weekend.

A test would be Pyongyang's first launch of a long-range missile since it stunned the world in August 1998 by firing a Taepodong 1 over Japan that landed in the Pacific Ocean.

"Such a launch would be a provocative act and we would instead urge them to focus their energies and their activities on returning to the six-party talks," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters. He was referring to talks on curbing Pyongyang's nuclear program involving the United States, China, Russia, North and South Korea and Japan.

The launch -- expected to involve a Taepodong 2 missile with an estimated range of 3,500 to 4,300 km -- could come as early as this weekend, U.S. officials said.

They said it seemed increasingly likely Pyongyang would go through with the test -- rather than just making preparations to get U.S. and international attention -- but that it could still decide to cancel a launch.

U.S. officials have told Reuters they would not try to shoot down a test missile although McCormack told a news briefing "we will take necessary preparatory steps to track any potential activities and to protect ourselves."

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It would seem to me that shooting down the Nork missile would send a pretty good message that despite their chest beating, the North Koreans are in fact impotent and they need to strike the best bargain they can at this point. Intercepting the missile in the lift phase would be real cool.