Japan warns that North Korea may fire missile at U.S. UPDATED

…on Independence Day.

Fireworks for July 4th:

North Korea may launch a long-range ballistic missile towards Hawaii on American Independence Day, according to Japanese intelligence officials.

The missile, believed to be a Taepodong-2 with a range of up to 4,000 miles, would be launched in early July from the Dongchang-ni site on the north-western coast of the secretive country.

Intelligence analysts do not believe the device would be capable of hitting Hawaii’s main islands, which are 4,500 miles from North Korea.

Let’s hope the islands are out of range:

Apparently the NorKs were thinking of other targets but changed their minds lest they upset China:

Officials had initially believed that North Korea might attempt to launch a similar device towards either Japan’s Okinawa island, Guam or Hawaii.

But the ministry concluded launches toward Okinawa or Guam were ‘extremely unlikely’ because the first-stage booster could drop into waters off China, agitating Beijing, or hit western Japanese territory.

Now, let’s ponder for a moment who is propping up North Korea. Why are the Chinese going along with this?

I expect the Obama administration has a strongly-worded letter ready, just in case they need it.

UPDATE
GM Roper’s shortest post ever.

More
U.S. Fortifies Hawaii to Meet Threat From Korea

The U.S. is moving ground-to-air missile defenses to Hawaii as tensions escalate between Washington and Pyongyang over North Korea’s recent moves to restart its nuclear-weapon program and resume test-firing long-range missiles.

Here’s a photo of floating radar platform:

Then there’s that ship, too

In another sign of America’s mounting concern about North Korea, a senior defense official said the U.S. is tracking a North Korean vessel, the Kang Nam, suspected of carrying weapons banned by a recent United Nations resolution.