North Korea Test Fires Several Missiles, Perhaps Including Taepodong ICBM

The first missile, which is preliminarily thought not to be the intercontinental variety causing the most alarm, has fallen into the Sea of Japan.

The reclusive communist state launched the missile at 3:32 a.m., or 2:32 p.m. Tuesday EDT, and it crashed into the Sea of Japan several minutes later, public broadcaster NHK reported.

NHK said Japanese government officials were trying to determine whether it was a long-range ballistic missile that had been readied for launch recently. North Korea had been thought to be preparing a test-launch of its Taepodong 2 missile, which is believed to be able to reach parts of the United States.

Fox News is reporting that the Japanese and U.S. government have both stated they believe North Korea subsequently fired a second test missile.  Reports suggest the second missile is also thought not to be a 3-stage Taepodong-2 missile that might reach the United States, but rather a conventional surface-to-air missile.

Kim Jong Il may be feeling pyromaniacal today, but he doesn't hold a roman candle to our fireworks.

Update:  CNN reports that the State Department says a third missile - this one the intercontinental Taepodong - has been fired.  The report says the missile failed in mid-air.

The senior State Department official said the launches were timed to coincide with the launch of the space shuttle Discovery from Florida, calling it "a provocative act designed to get attention."

Update: The AP is reporting that as many as 4 mid-range missiles have now been test fired, all of which landed in the Sea of Japan.

Japan's Kyodo news agency said they were believed to be mid-range Rodong missiles and landed about 300 miles off the western coast of Japan's Hokkaido Island.

A Pentagon official, who spoke only on condition of anonymity, identified two of the missiles as Scuds.
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However, the State Department official said North Korea appeared ready to launch the long-range Taepodong-2 missile. The official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, did not confirm that the Taepodong-2 had been launched.
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"We are urgently consulting with members of the Security Council," U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said in a statement.
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If the timing is correct, the North Korean missiles were launched within minutes of Tuesday's liftoff of Discovery, which blasted into orbit from Cape Canaveral in the first U.S. space shuttle launch in a year.

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