ID :
23640
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 14:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/23640
The shortlink copeid
N. Korea uses aged Russian aircraft to fire missiles: source
SEOUL, Oct. 9 (Yonhap) -- North Korea used an aging Russian-made aircraft to fire two short-range missiles earlier this week, a source privy to North Korean affairs said Thursday, surprising officials here who believed that equipping the plane to launch missiles was technically impossible.
The source said the North appeared to have used an Antonov-2 (AN-2) aircraft, but
others argued against the account.
"I wonder if that is technically possible," Won Tae-jae, a spokesman for the
Defense Ministry, told reporters.
North Korea was earlier reported to have fired two short-range missiles on
Tuesday in the West Sea, but officials here had been unable to confirm whether
the missiles were fired from the ground or a ship.
The AN-2 is a Russian-made light single-engine biplane that has a maximum cargo
capacity of about 1.5 tons.
"It is just technically not possible for the small AN-2 to lift off while
carrying 2-ton missiles and to fire them in air," an Air Force official said,
asking not to be identified. "It is simply impossible to equip an AN-2 with the
SS-N-2 Styx missiles as its wings are only a few feet from the ground."
The official believed the North could have instead used Ilyushin-28 (IL-28) jet
bombers, which are also Russian-made, to fire what appeared to be the heavy,
anti-ship KN-01 missile. The weapon weighs about 2.3 tons.
IL-28, he said, "are completely capable of carrying and firing the missiles."
Other independent experts added that the North's firing of two short-range
missiles this week appeared to be a part of a regular exercise to check the
performance of its munitions stockpile.
Meanwhile, sources here said the communist nation may be preparing to fire up to
10 short-range missiles in the West Sea, with some speculating that the launches
may take place on Friday to mark the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the
North's ruling Workers' Party.
If such a launch were to occur, it would be the first time for the communist
nation to fire more than 10 missiles in such a short period of time.
The possibility of more launches is due to the North having declaring a no-entry
area in the West Sea effective until next Wednesday, and evidence that North
Korea's West Sea fleet has stockpiled 10 KN-01 and Styx missiles at one of its
bases.
Related to the speculation that more missiles may be fired off, a South Korean
intelligence official, who wanted to remain anonymous, that Seoul has
concentrated its signal and visual data gathering assets to monitor such a even
The source said the North appeared to have used an Antonov-2 (AN-2) aircraft, but
others argued against the account.
"I wonder if that is technically possible," Won Tae-jae, a spokesman for the
Defense Ministry, told reporters.
North Korea was earlier reported to have fired two short-range missiles on
Tuesday in the West Sea, but officials here had been unable to confirm whether
the missiles were fired from the ground or a ship.
The AN-2 is a Russian-made light single-engine biplane that has a maximum cargo
capacity of about 1.5 tons.
"It is just technically not possible for the small AN-2 to lift off while
carrying 2-ton missiles and to fire them in air," an Air Force official said,
asking not to be identified. "It is simply impossible to equip an AN-2 with the
SS-N-2 Styx missiles as its wings are only a few feet from the ground."
The official believed the North could have instead used Ilyushin-28 (IL-28) jet
bombers, which are also Russian-made, to fire what appeared to be the heavy,
anti-ship KN-01 missile. The weapon weighs about 2.3 tons.
IL-28, he said, "are completely capable of carrying and firing the missiles."
Other independent experts added that the North's firing of two short-range
missiles this week appeared to be a part of a regular exercise to check the
performance of its munitions stockpile.
Meanwhile, sources here said the communist nation may be preparing to fire up to
10 short-range missiles in the West Sea, with some speculating that the launches
may take place on Friday to mark the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the
North's ruling Workers' Party.
If such a launch were to occur, it would be the first time for the communist
nation to fire more than 10 missiles in such a short period of time.
The possibility of more launches is due to the North having declaring a no-entry
area in the West Sea effective until next Wednesday, and evidence that North
Korea's West Sea fleet has stockpiled 10 KN-01 and Styx missiles at one of its
bases.
Related to the speculation that more missiles may be fired off, a South Korean
intelligence official, who wanted to remain anonymous, that Seoul has
concentrated its signal and visual data gathering assets to monitor such a even
