NORTH KOREA

North Korea Celebrates Controversial Rocket Launch

U.S., others condemn 'highly provocative act'

Dec 12, 2012 by Lisa Fine

Staff Writer t

Image: AP

North Korea launched a satellite into orbit on Wednesday, claiming it is for space research but revealing what could be the country's improving weapons program, the Washington Post reports.

News reports say North Koreans clinked beer mugs and danced in the streets to celebrate the country's first satellite in space. North Korean officials say the launch of the rocket, which did not carry a warhead but relies on technology similar to a long-range missile, is allowed under an international space treaty, the Post said.

The White House called the launch a "highly provocative act that threatens regional security." North Korea's most important ally, China, expressed regret over the incident, the Post said.

The UN Security Council plans to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the launch, which officials believe was conducted in defiance of a UN resolution banning the country from conducting missile tests, reports the BBC.

Via the Washington Post and the BBC

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?	What do you think North Korea is trying to do with its provocative actions?

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Dec '12

woodtick57

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Hey, they finally did what most nations could do in the 1960's! Now if they could only feed their people...
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Dec '12

RobertJHarsh

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Well they appear to have beer. Can one live on beer?
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Dec '12

texas_cutie75

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@RobertJHarsh

I sure did try my hardest in my younger years! LOL
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Dec '12

Avaholic90

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@RobertJHarsh believe it or not you can live on beer for about a month if you don't kill yourself in the process.
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Dec '12

twinertia

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It's taking a page out of the big boy's manual: show that you've got some moxey on the ball, and everybody backs off for awhile.
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Dec '12

mimi57

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I hope Psy was on that and there's a few more he can take with him...lol
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Dec '12

SavageMazx

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He could be dancing gundam style in orbit.
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Dec '12

mimi57

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@SavageMazx Yeah, I had never heard of him before it was on here, and my 9 yr. old nephew saw his picture
and said, "I know who he is, he does the gundam". I thought he was just "hopping'. He said, see he's on a Pegasus". That's about the silliest dance I've seen..hop, hop, hop..LOL
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Post @mimi57
Dec '12

SavageMazx

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@mimi57 after what he said about our armed forces and their families, I think a few Marines should teach him "gundam" style.
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Dec '12

mimi57

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@SavageMazx I wonder how tall he is?.. I'm guessing about 4'11...? Mini Elvis.. LOL
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Post @mimi57
Dec '12

mimi57

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@SavageMazx Not to mention we've had our troops over there since 1950 !!! Yeah, he could use a few "lessons".
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Dec '12

KyleMFb

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Maybe better their country...
maybe spy on other country's...
WHO EFFIN CARES they launched a satellite into orbit or launched a ICBM
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Dec '12

woodtick57

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That's exactly it, they now have ICBM technology and since they have Nuke technology they can tip one of those ICBM's with a Nuke if they so desired....

Kind of a big deal...
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Dec '12

KyleMFb

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@woodtick57 it's not a big deal everyone thinks North Korea, Iran and many other country's will use their nuclear wepons just bc they can...that won't happen bc of a thing called (M.A.D) mutually assured destruction that means If they use their limited nuclear power to wipe a country off the map then as a result of that they themselfs will be wiped of the map by other more powerful country's not to ad if they did end up fireing a missile it would shot down immediately
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Post @KyleMFb
Dec '12

Denizen_Kate

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@KyleMFb - " ... that won't happen bc of a thing called (M.A.D) mutually assured destruction ... " One would hope so, and the odds are against it, but odds become irrelevant where possibility is concerned, especially within regimes run by people who really are certifiably "mad". The idea of MAD only applies to the sane.
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Dec '12

KyleMFb

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@Denizen_Kate Korea and Iran aren't stupid there not going to use the bomb just to use it they want the bomb so there stick can be bigger
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Post @KyleMFb
Dec '12

Denizen_Kate

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@KyleMFb - stupid isn't the same thing as insane, which overrules common sense.
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Dec '12

PoliticalSpice

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For a supposedly comminist country they are doing everything imperialist before them have done. Its stupid, they should focus on agriculture, feed their people and become an exporter of food. There are ready markets in China and S Korea. After that forget about competing in old technology. Solar electric, and new technology is where they should put their infustrial base. If they due that they can outstrip other countries in the future...
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Dec '12

Dan_Tien

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"North Korea's most important ally, China, expressed regret over the incident" Does China regret helping North Korea develop their rocketry and nuclear technology? Do they promise to stop helping them?
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Dec '12

PoliticalSpice

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Does the u.s. tegret launching its atoms for peace initiative, spreading nuclear reactors around the world and creating the legal framework Iran is using to argue they have a right to develop mclear power...
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Post @PoliticalSpice
Dec '12

MongoAPillager

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i think the way china might play it,is if they wanted to lob a nuke somewhere they would just use n. Korea,china gets its dirty work done and if n. Korea gets glassed,big deal.i,m sure china has a palace prepared for Mr. ill if that event comes to pass,he can live there while we rebuild his country atom by atom
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Post @MongoAPillager
Dec '12

HPthinker

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looks like we have even more space junk in orbit. These guys can afford nukes and rockets, not food and electricity - go figure!
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Dec '12

jessejaymes

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This sort of reminds me what the USSR and the USA said every time one of them launched a satellite back in the day. People gnashed their teeth and fear was sold by the ton and people actually bought bomb shelters and dug up their back yards. And the beat goes on.
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Dec '12

HPthinker

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The united stats has landed probes on moons around outter planets and driven robots on mars - and we can afford to feed everybody and streetlights.
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Dec '12

Kellso

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They, as is recorded in history, are a defient military nation that think they can rule the world and are thumbing their nose at us and the rest of the world. At NO TIME be fooled into thinking that North Korea isnt planning on arming itself with long range nukes. THE ONLY way to deter this kind of foolishness is to eradicate it by any means necessary...
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Dec '12

Buzzfriendly

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No fan of the nutjob leaders in N. Korea, but why is it a "provocative action" when someone we don't like test a rocket? We invaded the nation of Iraq which did nothing to us and we have the gall to call NK rocket launch a "provocative action". I guess the glass houses and stone throwing memo hasn't circulated in DC yet.
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Dec '12

Zazziness

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I think when our government calls something "Shock and Awe," the provocative nature of it is assumed.
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Post @Zazziness
Dec '12

Buzzfriendly

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@Zazziness I was in Shock and Awe when I realized just how much it cost to invade a country that did nothing to you. I wish it was about oil because I am sick and tired of paying $3 to $4 a gallon.
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Dec '12

Zazziness

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@Buzzfriendly Thank your for your service. I wish your bravery had been more wisely used.
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Post @Zazziness
Dec '12

Buzzfriendly

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@Zazziness I think you misread me. I wasn't there it was the state of mind I was in when I saw what we did and how much it cost. Don't want to misrepresent myself.
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Post @Buzzfriendly
Dec '12

Zazziness

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@Buzzfriendly Ah! I know what you mean. Listening to it happen will always be with me. I remember thinking how I would feel if it was happening to my country. And it wasn't hard to imagine, since we had been so recently bombed. I would be shocked but not awed so much as homicidally angry. I knew then that conflict was going to go on a long time, even though the commentators on TV were basically declaring it over at that moment. As for North Korea? I've never seen a country so crazy. I had some hope his son wouldn't be another big loony but it turns out, yeah, he is. Or, if he's not, he sure does a good job acting like one.
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Dec '12

SavageMazx

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One small missile will remedy this problem...
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Dec '12

mimi57

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I agree..
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Post @mimi57
Dec '12

Zazziness

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The same thing they are doing when they puckishly lob missles over South Korea -- attention whoring. China has got to stop protecting this crazy benighted country.
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Dec '12

VeryLameduck

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Fire a rocket...I think the UN should put a stop to it and the US should stop aid to NK.
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Dec '12

Denizen_Kate

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Do we give money to NK? Cite some sources, please, I'd really like to know.
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Post @Denizen_Kate
Dec '12

VeryLameduck

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@Denizen_Kate I know that we do. I dot regularly believe the media but it was on NPR yesterday (no amount was given,) also heard it on CNN yesterday. I haven't "seen" any specific source, I do assume we give them some type of food aid...
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Post @VeryLameduck
Dec '12

kirbstomp1

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@Denizen_Kate -yes, we not only send money but also resources, like food.
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Dec '12

FFX_VA

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@Denizen_Kate Kate, Between 1995 and 2008, the United States provided North Korea with over $1.3 billion in assistance. But it's an on/off again deal to influence their behavior. Here's a detailed report on what & why.

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40095.pdf
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Dec '12

Denizen_Kate

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@FFX_VA - Thanks, very informative!
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Dec '12

bsking

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eventually.? hit the west coast.
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Dec '12

Denizen_Kate

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Hey, I live on the west coast ... please don't encourage them!
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Dec '12

bsking

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@Denizen_Kate I think it'll be a very very long time before they get that much return on there fireworks investment
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Dec '12

Newsdoctor

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It's a global tragedy that a renegade regime like North Korea's devotes scarce economic resources to tomfoolery with high-tech weaponry even as its long-suffering people are forced at gunpoint to live without adequate food. The only way this could occur is through a national political cult that demands worship of the infallible "dear leader." Ultimately, North Korea is playing with fire. If it ever has the spectacularly poor judgment to use its technology to attack other countries, North Korea will be crushed by responsible nations.
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Dec '12

FollowTheMoney

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Look for North Korea to attempt to expand it's boarders soon.
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Dec '12

Thegrif

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Trying to act like they are a threat, and flex some muscle, which is a joke.
How bout this North Korea, try feeding your people for yourself.
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Dec '12

RedFloppyShoes

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Wanna bet it was built by the Russians with American technology...thanks Bill Clinton.
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Dec '12

Dan_Tien

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I think that North Korea is trying to prove that they are powerful and don' t need to ask anyone's permission to launch rockets and will do so whether we like it or not. I say the US should not ask permission to shoot them down, whether they like it or not.
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Dec '12

Politicskid

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Yes, we need to act and send a message. They aren't taking us seriously, which shows they really don't care about their people. We have the most powerful military in the world...they should be trying to get on our nice list!
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Post @Politicskid
Dec '12

Politicskid

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North Korea is trying to develop more advanced weapons. They've lied to us before. Their leader is a ruthless dictator who indoctrinates all but his most senior officials by convincing them he's God.

If only we had implemented President Reagan's Strategic Defense Intiative. It would be perfect for this kind of thing. Critics said it was unrealistic at the time it was being proposed, but since the 90s it's actually been practical. If we had that, we could accurately disable North Koreas research while limiting fatalities.
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Dec '12

Vermonter

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Mark my words: Within 10 years either North Korea or Iran WILL launch a nuclear tipped missle at the US. Will we be able to stop it? And what will our reaction be?
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Politix

What do you think North Korea is trying to do with its provocative actions?