Israel Matzav

North Korea launches satellite into orbit, Obama goes golfing

North Korea placed a satellite in orbit a few hours ago. The launch and the fact that it successfully reached orbit has been confirmed by NORAD.

US missile-warning systems detected the launch of a North Korean rocket on Tuesday, and initial indications are that the missile deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, said.

The launch was detected at 7:49 p.m. EST (0049 GMT Wednesday) and the rocket was tracked on a southerly course, with the first stage falling into the Yellow Sea and the second stage falling into the Philippine Sea.

"Initial indications are that the missile deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit," NORAD said in a statement. "At no time was the missile or the resultant debris a threat to North America."

North Korea places a satellite in orbit and it's 'not a threat to North America'? That sounds absurd to me, but apparently the Hussein Obama administration agrees that there is no threat. 

"We noted the launch and we are monitoring the situation. We will have further official comment later," the official said in an email message.

North Korea launched a long-range rocket for the second time this year on Wednesday local time, and may have succeeded in putting a satellite into space, the stated aim of what critics say is a disguised ballistic missile test.

The UN and the Russians are not so sanguine. This is from UN Secretary General  Ban Ki-Moon.

"The Secretary-General deplores the rocket launch announced by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)," Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky said in a statement.

"It is a clear violation of Security Council resolution 1874, in which the Council demanded that the DPRK not conduct any launch using ballistic missile technology," the statement said.

And this is from the Russians.

Russia expressed "deep regret" over North Korea's rocket launch on Wednesday, saying the reclusive nation had violated a UN Security Council resolution limiting its use of ballistic technology.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the North Korean launch had increased instability in the region and called on other nations to refrain from actions that would further escalate tensions.

But Hussein Obama is on vacation now. We can't let this interfere with his golf game. And don't give me this crap about it being the middle of the night in the US when this happened. He announced that Osama Bin Laden had been liquidated around 11:30 pm US Eastern time in May.

What could go wrong?

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, intercontinental ballistic missiles, North Korea

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:23 AM