North Korea's missile...Is my math wrong?

Question

"Intelligence reports say the North has fueled a Taepodong-2 missile with a range experts estimate at up to 9,300 miles — making it capable of reaching parts of the United States." -AP

I measured the distance from North Korea to Miami, FL and came up with roughly 7,600 miles.

Is my math wrong?

We're "pretty sure" they don't have a nuke to put on the missile, but hey, anyone else wanna launch a fleet of cruise missiles into N. Korea?

I'm using Microsoft Encarta World Map to measure the distance. Miami is the farthest point from NK, which indicates to me that 9,300 covers the entire US.

Answer 1

I'm speaking as the resident subject matter expert, that missile is capable of hitting Alaska, Hawaii, Californis, Oregon, Washington (not D.C. unfortunately), and some of Arizona, Utah, and Idaho.

And for those of you who have absolute trust in the Missile defense system, all I can say is you poor sick deluded fools. It's 50/50 in tests. And that's when they've been rigged.

Answer 2

9,300 miles is its absolute limit, but that would be without any payload, conventional or otherwise. Sources put the maximum with a decent sized payload at 4,300km or 2,671 miles, not even enough to hit Alaska. There is speculation that they may have developed it so that it could hit somewhere on the coast with a warhead, but we really know nothing about it.

Answer 3

I heard on the Fox News channel it could only reach the west coast. But I've heard the USA is roughly 3,200 miles across but I have no verification on that and I've heard the Pacific Ocean from here to there is roughly 5,000 miles so really only about the area out to Las Vegas is in threat in my POV but of course I have no verifications on those distances for the time being.

Answer 4

The distance they are referring to is the total distance. Including elevation. The missile has to travel out of the atmosphere, around to target, then back down. According to calculations I have seen, with best atmospheric conditions, it may reach as far as Denver from the extreme eastern point of N.K.

I am looking for the article on-line as soon as I find it I will add it to source.

Answer 5

The only states the missile can hit is Alaska and California so we have put the missile defense unit in front of the west coast.

Answer 6

This guy kim jong is a dictator and nuclear arms is his insurance against other nations those who try to over throw him.Besides he is suffering from economic boycott from world nations and he wants to show them he has a power and nobody can touch him or tell him what to do.And actually to them it is their way to make peace or avoid war because now with nuclear weapons he will be left alone (at least that is what he thinks). To pursue him for dismantle i think require to start a war which no other country wants but that is the only alternative tough choice and if he is not overthrown he will get away with all this .

Answer 7

It is my understanding that the missile could reach California. So I don't think we should really worry about it. It's only California.
Seriously though, It is my understanding that YES the missile could reach the U.S.
Do I think GW is going to let it hit us? HELL NO!! GW has activated our anti-missile systems. They are on alert. He has said that if they launch it, we'll shoot it down.
I wouldn't worry too much, we have better technology than we did in the Cuban missile crisis.

Answer 8

I've heard it's range was only 8,000 km (at the most-with a light load), this equals around 4900 miles, which is an arc from Phoenix, AZ to Wisconsin, including Alaska.

Answer 9

I saw a map that put maximum distance to about Omaha, certainly taking in the entire West Coast.

Answer 10

I don't think your math is wrong; if this one can't hit the entire US the "3rd" version probably will. Who knows how long it takes to develop that.

If I we're Bush this one doesn't get off the launch pad. It blows up....suddenly and with extreme prejudice and no doubts as to who did it.