The Peter Principle – 2017

I watched in awe as CBS Morning News showed the test launch of North Korea’s latest ballistic missile, originally reported on February 13, 2017. The launch caught my attention immediately as the solid fuel prime, or launch engine did not ignite until the missile was well clear of the launcher, exactly like all SLBM, Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles, even though this was a land-based launch. Not only does the missile look exactly like a modified US Navy UGM-73 Poseidon, it basically launches the same way! Why is North Korea testing submarine-based missiles? Or are they really using submarine-based systems modified for land use? What are US analysts missing here? Or are they simply afraid to tell us what is going on? Let me ‘splain, Lucy.

Poseidon launch per Wikipedia

Basically the prime logic behind submarine-based missiles is not only stealth, but simply, if you can not build a missile to fly far enough to strike a fixed target, simply move the launch point closer until the target is in range of what you can build. Simple. But does North Korea already have submarines, or are they surreptitiously testing for the Chinese who have already demonstrated rather obnoxiously they can fire a submarine based ballistic missile whenever and wherever they want. They can even use someone else’s test range if they choose, and, apparently, they already have. ¹

While the U.S. media is in a tither of so-called President Trump’s grandiose, unprecedented public handling of the notification of the event in front of not only the Japanese Prime Minister, but also Trump’s butlers and wine stewards, the real event has gone unreported. It doesn’t matter if the missile, a Pukguksong-2, only has a range of only 1500 miles. If the launch pad is submerged and off shore of the continental United States, the point is moot. Especially if they use the MIRVs – Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle – which make US warheads so lethal.

Do you want to see the difference between a North Korean land based IRBM (Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile) such as the liquid-fueled US Army Redstone – which was stationed in Germany in the late 1950’s or the later solid-fueled medium range Pershing which took over the target assignment of the 38^th Tactical Missile Wing’s air breathing cruise missiles in the 1960’s – then watch the “Autobahn” launch of North Korea’s Rodong missiles at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIsCIup94Qc These missile are not aimed at the US mainland, and were never designed to do so. They are to decimate South Korea and Japan.

“Pukguksong-2 launch , from KCNA

Now take a look at 

http://www.vocativ.com/402115/north-korea-tv-missile-launch/ According to 38 North,² the media arm of the US – Korea Institute at SAIS, North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun provided pictures of what it is calling the “Pukguksong-2, solid-fuel missile.” 

The pictures show something very similar to the KN-11 solid-fuel submarine-launched missile successfully tested last August, which North Korea calls the Pukguksong-1. The discharge plume or exhaust trail, erroneously called a "contrail" by the US media, is startlingly familiar to those who analysed the mysterious California launch on November 9th, 2010. See the difference? The old land-based solid fueled Pershing ignited and launched without the primary "boost" and secondary ignition of the main engine used by the Korean missile. The Korean missile is designed to strike any adversary, anywhere on earth. It just takes a launch platform that can get close enough. And who has the launch platform?

The Chinese are once again laughing up their sleeves.

George

1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AMdHBgHtNE

2 - http://38north.org/2017/02/jschilling021317/