BREAKING NEWS —  South Korean media report that North Korea has test-fired two short-range missiles.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529814,00.html

A look at North Korea's missile arsenal

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gaKLKWeiS0G-fs2dlJmCZCEwZUqwD996E9U00

N. Korea is ruled by thugs. Kinda like Iran.  

What does Russia have to do with North Korea?  What's the tie-in?

Trade with China

Ready. Aim. Never Mind.

AH.........Delayed reaction?

"The North Koreans launched what was believed to be a Taepodong 2 in April, but the third stage of the rocket is alleged to have failed after flying over Japan. Recently, possibly as a result of a power struggle related to the health of Kim Jong Il, North Korea has escalated threatening rhetoric against the U.S. and other countries. In anticipation of a possible new Taepodong 2 launch timed for the U.S. Independence Day celebration, Pentagon officials indicated that the readiness of U.S. antimissile defense is being increased, particularly around Hawaii.
 
"However, despite the North Koreans' reported launch today of four short-range missiles, two U.S. national security officials tell NEWSWEEK that an Independence Day launch of another Taepodong 2 is essentially impossible because the North Koreans have not yet assembled such a rocket on a launch pad. 
 
"U.S. government experts are monitoring what may be preparations by the North Koreans to assemble another Taepodong 2 for launch. However, the rocket is still in pieces, according to the two officials (who asked for anonymity when discussing sensitive information) and would take days or even weeks to put together. Even after such a missile is assembled on a launchpad, the officials added, the North Koreans would then need several more days to load it with liquid fuel. The entire process of assembling and fueling such a rocket would be easily visible not only to secret spy satellites and aircraft operated by the U.S. and other Western governments but also to picture-taking satellites operated by commercial companies, one of the officials noted.
 
"The available evidence indicates that if the North Koreans are preparing to launch another Taepodong 2, there is no way it could be launched in time for July 4; best estimates are that even if preparations are pursued at an accelerated rate, the earliest another large missile launch could take place would be several weeks from now. Hence, U.S. experts say, whatever Independence Day fireworks may light up the sky over Hawaii, Alaska, or the West Coast of the U.S., they likely won't come from a North Korea missile test."

Now that's a relief!

N. Korea marks July 4 with missile barrage

Pyongyang sends 'message to the U.S.' by firing 7 ballistic weapons

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31728902/ns/world_news-asiapacific/

Video

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/31735021#31735021