North Korea’s effort to fire a satellite into orbit failed, according to experts. From a technical standpoint, the failure would likely seriously delay the missile’s debut. “It’s got to be embarrassing,” said Ploughshares grantee Geoffrey Forden [2]of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology [3]. “I can imagine heads flying if the ‘Dear Leader’ finds out the satellite didn’t fly into orbit.”
Jeffrey G. Lewis of the Ploughshares-funded New America Foundation [4]added, “It’s not unusual to have a series of failures at the beginning of a missile program.” North Korea is often portrayed as technically adept when it comes to bombs and rockets, but analysts say that image is now in doubt.
However, David Wright [5]of the Ploughshares-funded Union of Concerned Scientists [6]estimated a successful rocket might lead to a ballistic missile that could throw a warhead far enough to hit parts of Alaska. He added that the rocket’s failure might “open a window of opportunity” to engage the North Koreans in disarmament talks.
Links
[1] https://www.ploughshares.org/file/537
[2] http://ploughshares.org/expert/182
[3] http://web.mit.edu/stgs/
[4] http://www.newamerica.net/
[5] http://ploughshares.org/expert/143
[6] http://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear_weapons_and_global_security/
[7] http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/06/world/asia/06korea.html?scp=2&sq=north%20korea&st=cse