Some Updates On the Brewing Tension On the Korean Peninsula

It is going to be a tense weekend/next week here on the Korean peninsula. North Korea has recently announced it's plans to launch "a satellite for peaceful purposes between 4-8 April," according to a two days old BBC News article. I have found no apparent explanation for the purpose of the launch on the part of the North Koreans. However, it appears that "the United States, Japan and South Korea say the North will in fact use the launch to test its Taepodong-2 missile." From a bout of cursory research, it appears that the Taepodong-2 is capable of traveling a maximum of 2,300 miles (falling short of Anchorage by several hundred miles) and delivering a payload of around 500 kg. It is unsure whether or not the Taepodong could support an alleged North Korean nuclear warhead, as so little is know about the North Korean nuclear program. A US spokesman said that "two destroyers were sent out from the South Korean port of Busan," but that they were headed into an area near North Korea for monitering purposes only. In fact, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that the US would only shoot down the missile or become involved if "we had an aberrant missile, one that looked like it was headed for Hawaii." Japan has stated that they will shoot it down if it appears that any piece of what is launched by Pyongyang will fall anywhere near their territory. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said that it was "not in anyone's interest to test-fire a missile, or whatever it is." However, he also said "What I do oppose is to militarily respond to these kind of actions."

It seems like the only real danger is in another country stepping in and shooting down the launch, depending on what it is. I have not looked through the relevant international laws yet, but this could be called an act of aggression enough to validate an even greater response by Pyongyang, and that's where things could get pretty hairy.

We'll see what happens.