Taepodong-2 Missiles are long-range, liquid-fueled missiles developed by North Korea. Because of the secrecy of the North Korean's weapons production, much is unknown about the missiles.
Analysts believe the Taepodong-2 missile could travel some 6,000 kilometers and deliver a one ton payload. If carrying a 500 kg payload the missile may be able to hit a target about 9,000 kilometers away from the launch site.http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/nukes/nuclearweapons/Taepodong.html A newspaper report in Japan stated that North Korea may be preparing to launch a Taepodong 2 missile towards Hawaii in early-July 2009.http://www.necn.com/Boston/World/2009/06/18/Report-North-Korea-plans/1245324856.html
Missile Towards Hawaii?
On June 18, 2009, The Yomiuri Daily, a major Japanese newspaper, reported that North Korea was preparing to launch a Taepodong-2 missile from the Dongchang-ni site, in northwestern North Korea. The report stated that the missile could be launched between July 4, 2009 and July 8, 2009.http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090618/D98T1AR00.html
References
Fast Facts
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Purpose
North Korea
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Fact:
Known test of the Taepodong-2 missile was on July 4, 2006 (July 5, 2006 in North Korea)
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Fact:
2006 test was unsuccessful; missile exploded 40 seconds after launching
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Fact:
Are launched from above ground launch pads
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Fact:
Little is known about the accuracy of the Taepodong missiles
