North Korea successfully launched a long-range rocket carrying a satellite into orbit on Wednesday. The government says that this launch was done was only a peaceful program to send a satellite into the orbit so that they could get results from it. However, it used technology that violated U.N security council resolutions banning North Korea's ballistic missile program (1). Many of the North Korean country's state-controlled media channels showed this to the public, which they had viewed it as a success. Many people believe that the rocket launch was actually a test that makes North Korea closer and more familiar with sending nuclear warheads across the United States.
The U.S. and key Asian allies believe it is a thinly disguised attempt to test an intercontinental (having the capability of traveling from one continent to another) ballistic missile aimed at furthering development of the technology needed to mount a nuclear warhead on a long-range rocket that could one day reach the U.S. (2) The Americans are paranoid of this act because of the fact that maybe, the North Koreans actually did this test just so that they could see how far they could into the United States if they ever did want to launch a missile at them, and not have done the test for satellite and orbit purposes, which North Koreans seem to believe. We also know that North Korea and the United States have had a long standing adversary. North Korea has criticized the U.S. for not lifting economic sanctions. The U.S. has criticized North Korean missile exports and has suspected Pyongyang (the capital of North Korea) of secretly developing a nuclear weapons program (3).
China, North Koreas only remaining ally wasn't so pleased with the launch of the missile, and they even went as far as expressing that they "regret" it. This launch operation was very expensive, and it is a waste of money for a country that isn't wealthy and isn't doing so well economic wise. While reading an article about this successful missile launch, I read that, Wednesdays and the failed one that happened earlier in April added up to $600 million dollars. Pyongyang spent an estimated $1.3 billion total on its rocket program this year, which the South Korean government says is enough to buy 4.6 million tons of corn (4). When you think of it that way, it does seem like a waste of money, but, maybe it wasn't for the North Koreans if this launch was disguised and they really needed to know the results of it for future plans, if that is they have any.
Personally, this is just another situation that makes me think that we could potentially see another world war in the near future. The reason for that is because of retaliation, not only for this situation but also all the other conflicts between other nations today. Dealing with this one in particular, what if the United States decides to launch something into the orbits as well, what would we say then? What if this launch really was a disguise and North Korea is actually planning on launching a missile on the United States in the future? Maybe the North Koreans did launch it to send a satellite into the orbit, or maybe they sent it to test out the distance, or maybe it was launched for both reasons. It is one of those predicaments where we really don't know the exact honest truth about it, and it is a situation based more on people's opinions, rather than facts. North Koreans would say it was for a good cause and had to do with what they said it was about. Other nations would beg to differ.
I would like to address the issue which you raised about world war.
Just to clarify, World War 3 has been a superbly hot topic ever since WW2, but specifically since the publication of stories about world nuclear powers. One of which is Iran (which will be discussed shortly).
Again, in clarification, I would like to point out that Korea, most people forget, launched a very similar missile in April, which failed. The Guardian posted in April:
"The North Koreans ignored eleventh-hour pleas from the US, South Korea and Japan not to go through with the launch, insisting its sole purpose was to put an earth observation satellite into orbit.
In a rare show of candour, an announcement broadcast by North Korean state TV acknowledged that the three-stage rocket had failed to enter orbit." [1]
Korea showed brazen confidence here and proceeded against the wishes of all countries, even their allies the Chinese. Yet that is quickly forgotten as we see a successful launch 8 months later. This is just an example of the persistence which exists in the world today, which many believe will contribute to the world war.
Another factor which is anticipated to contribute to the allegedly impending war is the lack of control the US shows. US news posted:
"North Korea's launch last week of a long range ballistic missile caught the United States and its allies by surprise, given that Pyongyang had announced a week earlier it was having technical difficulties and would postpone the event." [2]
This is a shock, which the Americans aren't accustomed to, they usually know what is happening and where.
Lastly, multiple powers conflicting (much like in the first two World Wars) is a major factor in the building World War 3. Every war is a conflict of power, but when there are more than 2 or 3 sides to the war (each with a few allies), it becomes a World War. These have devastated the world before, and might again. Specifically when looking at the many powers competing in the world today.
Briefly looking at Russia, we can see the Nunn-Lugar program, which has kept nuclear weapons an illegality for them, is being cancelled this year.
"According to Bellona President Frederic Hauge, Nunn-Lugar has been essential to assuring the nuclear safety of Russia, and indeed the world.
“It is shocking that Russia, with its risks, is cancelling this program,” he said." [3]
Russia is a threat in the world, as are many other countries. Another major power is Iran. Analysts all over the world are advising against war on Iran.
"Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force General Amir Ali Hajizadeh warned the US and the Zionist regime [Israel] that an attack on Iran will likely trigger World War III." [4]
And, in the aspect of an emerging military alliance (potentially in preparation for WW3), Israel and the U.S. have declared that the "US and the Israeli regime may not enter war with Iran “independent from each other, meaning that either one of these two starts the war, it will be joined by the other one”." [5]
This should scare all of us, in that a full-scale nuclear battle is in the making, with EVERY major power in the world preparing to partake.
As a final scare, the DECLARED countries with nuclear WARHEADS are the U.S., Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel. There are allegedly at least 3 times as many countries harbouring some nuclear power, too. [6]
WW3 could be on the way. That is, if we survive Dec. 21, 2012.
Weekly Post:
ReplyDeleteNorth Korea successfully launched a long-range rocket carrying a satellite into orbit on Wednesday. The government says that this launch was done was only a peaceful program to send a satellite into the orbit so that they could get results from it. However, it used technology that violated U.N security council resolutions banning North Korea's ballistic missile program (1). Many of the North Korean country's state-controlled media channels showed this to the public, which they had viewed it as a success. Many people believe that the rocket launch was actually a test that makes North Korea closer and more familiar with sending nuclear warheads across the United States.
The U.S. and key Asian allies believe it is a thinly disguised attempt to test an intercontinental (having the capability of traveling from one continent to another) ballistic missile aimed at furthering development of the technology needed to mount a nuclear warhead on a long-range rocket that could one day reach the U.S. (2) The Americans are paranoid of this act because of the fact that maybe, the North Koreans actually did this test just so that they could see how far they could into the United States if they ever did want to launch a missile at them, and not have done the test for satellite and orbit purposes, which North Koreans seem to believe. We also know that North Korea and the United States have had a long standing adversary. North Korea has criticized the U.S. for not lifting economic sanctions. The U.S. has criticized North Korean missile exports and has suspected Pyongyang (the capital of North Korea) of secretly developing a nuclear weapons program (3).
China, North Koreas only remaining ally wasn't so pleased with the launch of the missile, and they even went as far as expressing that they "regret" it. This launch operation was very expensive, and it is a waste of money for a country that isn't wealthy and isn't doing so well economic wise. While reading an article about this successful missile launch, I read that, Wednesdays and the failed one that happened earlier in April added up to $600 million dollars. Pyongyang spent an estimated $1.3 billion total on its rocket program this year, which the South Korean government says is enough to buy 4.6 million tons of corn (4). When you think of it that way, it does seem like a waste of money, but, maybe it wasn't for the North Koreans if this launch was disguised and they really needed to know the results of it for future plans, if that is they have any.
Personally, this is just another situation that makes me think that we could potentially see another world war in the near future. The reason for that is because of retaliation, not only for this situation but also all the other conflicts between other nations today. Dealing with this one in particular, what if the United States decides to launch something into the orbits as well, what would we say then? What if this launch really was a disguise and North Korea is actually planning on launching a missile on the United States in the future? Maybe the North Koreans did launch it to send a satellite into the orbit, or maybe they sent it to test out the distance, or maybe it was launched for both reasons. It is one of those predicaments where we really don't know the exact honest truth about it, and it is a situation based more on people's opinions, rather than facts. North Koreans would say it was for a good cause and had to do with what they said it was about. Other nations would beg to differ.
(1)http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2012/12/12/north-korea-missile-launch-cost-why-now/
(2)http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=17939423
(3)http://www.fpif.org/reports/us-north_korea_relations
(4)http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2012/12/12/north-korea-missile-launch-cost-why-now/
Weekly post.
ReplyDeleteI would like to address the issue which you raised about world war.
Just to clarify, World War 3 has been a superbly hot topic ever since WW2, but specifically since the publication of stories about world nuclear powers. One of which is Iran (which will be discussed shortly).
Again, in clarification, I would like to point out that Korea, most people forget, launched a very similar missile in April, which failed. The Guardian posted in April:
"The North Koreans ignored eleventh-hour pleas from the US, South Korea and Japan not to go through with the launch, insisting its sole purpose was to put an earth observation satellite into orbit.
In a rare show of candour, an announcement broadcast by North Korean state TV acknowledged that the three-stage rocket had failed to enter orbit." [1]
Korea showed brazen confidence here and proceeded against the wishes of all countries, even their allies the Chinese. Yet that is quickly forgotten as we see a successful launch 8 months later. This is just an example of the persistence which exists in the world today, which many believe will contribute to the world war.
Another factor which is anticipated to contribute to the allegedly impending war is the lack of control the US shows. US news posted:
"North Korea's launch last week of a long range ballistic missile caught the United States and its allies by surprise, given that Pyongyang had announced a week earlier it was having technical difficulties and would postpone the event." [2]
This is a shock, which the Americans aren't accustomed to, they usually know what is happening and where.
Lastly, multiple powers conflicting (much like in the first two World Wars) is a major factor in the building World War 3. Every war is a conflict of power, but when there are more than 2 or 3 sides to the war (each with a few allies), it becomes a World War. These have devastated the world before, and might again. Specifically when looking at the many powers competing in the world today.
Briefly looking at Russia, we can see the Nunn-Lugar program, which has kept nuclear weapons an illegality for them, is being cancelled this year.
"According to Bellona President Frederic Hauge, Nunn-Lugar has been essential to assuring the nuclear safety of Russia, and indeed the world.
“It is shocking that Russia, with its risks, is cancelling this program,” he said." [3]
Russia is a threat in the world, as are many other countries. Another major power is Iran. Analysts all over the world are advising against war on Iran.
"Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force General Amir Ali Hajizadeh warned the US and the Zionist regime [Israel] that an attack on Iran will likely trigger World War III." [4]
And, in the aspect of an emerging military alliance (potentially in preparation for WW3), Israel and the U.S. have declared that the "US and the Israeli regime may not enter war with Iran “independent from each other, meaning that either one of these two starts the war, it will be joined by the other one”." [5]
This should scare all of us, in that a full-scale nuclear battle is in the making, with EVERY major power in the world preparing to partake.
As a final scare, the DECLARED countries with nuclear WARHEADS are the U.S., Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel. There are allegedly at least 3 times as many countries harbouring some nuclear power, too. [6]
WW3 could be on the way. That is, if we survive Dec. 21, 2012.
1: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/13/north-korea-rocket-launch-fails
2: http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/world-report/2012/12/17/why-north-korea-launched-the-missile
3: http://www.bellona.org/articles/articles_2012/Russia_pulls_out_of_ctr [first]
4: http://www.bellona.org/articles/articles_2012/Russia_pulls_out_of_ctr [second]
5: http://www.globalresearch.ca/a-war-on-iran-will-trigger-world-war-iii/5305791
6: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_with_nuclear_weapons