WASHINGTON -- North Korea on Tuesday launched a long-range missile that may be capable of reaching the U.S., two State Department officials said, adding that the missile failed after 35 or 40 seconds.
The missile was one of at least three that were fired. The other two short-range missiles landed in Sea of Japan. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the long-range missile was the Taepodong-2, North Korea's most advanced missile with a range of up to 9,320 miles.
The launch followed weeks of speculation that the North was preparing to test its advanced Taepodong-2 missile from a site on its northeast coast. The preparations had generated stern warnings from the U.S. and Japan, which had threatened possible economic sanctions in response.
The Sea of Japan lies between Japan and the Korean Peninsula.
"North Korea has gone ahead with the launch despite international protest," Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said. "That is regrettable from the standpoint of Japan's security, the stability of international society, and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction."
I've been watching coverage of this on Fox News for the last hour, and a number of the commentators are saying that America needs to be careful not to overreact. That may or may not be good advice, but this observer believes that some sort of a strong, no-nonsense response to this is needed from the Bush administration...and it is needed quickly.
We need this response for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that Iran is watching how we react to this very carefully. If North Korea is not on the receiving end of a strong and decisive reaction to this missile launch it will leave America looking weak and indecisive.
President Clinton's cut-and-run from Somalia taught us all a lesson about what happens when our country is left looking weak in the eyes of our enemies.
As for what this response should be, I have no idea.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Update:
I just heard on Fox News that North Korea fired three more missiles in addition to the three reported on above. Two of these additional missiles were short range, and another was of the long-range variety that can reach America.
These were apparently just launched moments ago.