| Sometimes so many searches are made on the | | | | The first stage of this rocket is a cluster of four |
| About Facts Net site for a particular thing that I | | | | Scud C rockets. You might remember the Scud |
| almost feel compelled to write about it, this is one | | | | as the rocket that was fired at Israel during the |
| of those times. I have been deluged for | | | | Iraqi War. The first stage is known as the |
| information on North Korea's new missile, the one | | | | No-Dong 1 IRBM. The second stage of this missile |
| that has caused all the trouble. North Korea is | | | | is a single Scud C and the third stage is believed |
| conducting missile tests on a missile, that we have | | | | to be a small solid state rocket engine. This missile |
| been told, is capable of reaching the U.S. As we all | | | | is believed to be inaccurate even though it has |
| know, this has upset the world powers to no end. | | | | long range. |
| Kim Jong II is the leader of North Korea, or at | | | | The North Koreans also have the Rodong 2 |
| least he was when I wrote this article about two | | | | missile. This missile has a range of slightly over |
| weeks ago. The reason I say this is that you | | | | 1200 miles and is capable of reaching anywhere in |
| never know what may happen in a couple of | | | | Japan. The Rodong 2 which is known as the |
| weeks on this crazy world of ours. Some | | | | Nodong 2 by South Korea is a single stage rocket. |
| newspapers from other countries are saying that | | | | It is mobile and uses a liquid fuel. The original |
| good old Jong has now made the same mistake | | | | Rodong 1 had a range of only 620 miles. It is |
| that Saddam made that caused the invasion, he | | | | believed that the North Koreans switched from |
| has gotten weapons of mass destruction or at | | | | steel to aluminum and magnesium alloy to lighten |
| least the delivery system for them. Let's take a | | | | the vehicle, which may have contributed greatly |
| look at this missile and the other missiles in North | | | | to its increase in range. It is believed that the |
| Korea's arsenal. | | | | vehicle can support a warhead of over one ton. |
| The TD-2 might be able to reach Alaska if it was | | | | North Korea has over 200 Rodong 1 missiles. The |
| fitted with a very small payload. It is a missile that | | | | exact number of Rodong 2 missiles is unknown, |
| can be configured into either two stages or three | | | | but it is believed that the total of both missiles is |
| stages. The maximum distance is obtainable when | | | | about 450. |
| it is in three stage mode. Payloads vary anywhere | | | | Last, but not least, is the Scud missile. This is the |
| from 100 to 1000 kg depending on the rockets | | | | missile that seems to be all over the mid east. It |
| configuration. The rocket is over 100 feet tall with | | | | seems that North Korea has been stockpiling |
| all its stages and weighs anywhere from | | | | these things and has over 600 of them ready to |
| 80,000-85,000 pounds when it is fueled for | | | | fly. These missiles are short range, but would |
| takeoff. The rocket uses a solid rocket motor. | | | | have no trouble reaching South Korea. So where |
| There is an interesting fact that concerns the | | | | did these Scud missiles come from? Initially it is |
| launch facilities, they are not designed for winter | | | | believed that Scud technology came from Egypt |
| use. This casts serious doubt that they would be | | | | in the 1970s and North Korea just kept improving |
| used for war and also might indicate that any | | | | it. It is also believed that there may be at least |
| invasion of North Korea, if there was one, would | | | | one and maybe more unidentified missiles being |
| take place in the winter when these rockets | | | | tested. Unconfirmed reports state that there are |
| couldn't be fired. Intelligence agencies are saying | | | | about eight missile launching facilities in North |
| that Iran is receiving TD-2 engines from North | | | | Korea. |
| Korea. | | | | North Korea is a country where people are |
| Do not think that the TD-2 is North Korea's most | | | | starving. The huge amount of money being spent |
| powerful missile? If you are worried about the | | | | on missile development could feed many people, |
| range of this missile, then you will really be | | | | maybe even the entire country. Will this country |
| concerned about the range of the Taepodong 1. | | | | be able to keep up this spending without some |
| This missile is said to have a range of 9,320 miles. | | | | sort of popular revolution? They have done so |
| Yes you have heard me correctly, this missile can | | | | for quite some time now, but who knows? They |
| reach the east coast of the U.S. The launch of | | | | have become a missile exporter with many of |
| this missile was conducted by North Korea in | | | | the missiles going to the troubled middle eastern |
| August of 1998. It had been an attempt to launch | | | | countries. North Korea seems to pose a far |
| a satellite which was initially denied by the | | | | greater threat to world peace and stability than |
| Pentagon. The Pentagon changed their opinion | | | | Iran. |
| about a month later saying that it hadn't detected | | | | Copyright © 2006 by About Facts Net and |
| the satellite, but upon examination of the data it | | | | its licensors. All rights reserved. |
| realized that it was a satellite launch gone bad. | | | | |