The North Korean Missile Crisis

New developments Tuesday in the ongoing nuclear confrontation between the US and North Korea. First... the North Koreans apparently completed fueling their newest long-range missile -- a true ICBM capable of hitting targets in Alaska, western Canada, and perhaps even along the West Coast of the US mainland.

The Taepodong-2 stands ready on its launchpad in the northeastern part of North Korea... and could be launched as early as Wednesday.

Despite calls from nations around the world -- including the United States and Japan -- to stand down from its long-range missile test and honor a 1998 treaty banning such flights... North Korea Tuesday said it has a sovereign right to launch the vehicle, and would do so in the face of what it called American provocation.

As a result, American military sources let it be known that the US has transferred its ground-based missile defense systems from test to operational status.

We begin our in-depth coverage now with ANN Senior Correspondent Kevin O'Brien... followed by comments from Leonard Spector, Deputy Director of the Monterey Institute's Center for Non-Proliferation Studies... and Mark Kelso, chairman of social sciences at Queens University in Charlotte, NC.

This feature is in addition to our daily news briefing -- available in either a quick "Touch And Go" format or an expanded Aero-Briefing.

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 06.21.06 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program)

ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 06.21.06 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program)

ANN Special Feature -- The North Korean Missile Crisis: 06.21.06 (ANN Special Feature, with analysis of North Korea's imminent plans to test a long range ICBM.)

Our DAILY programs consist of (at least) three separate products.

• ANN's Daily 'Touch & Go' Aero-Cast: A quick look at the most recent news of the day... short, succinct and to the point. The usual 'Touch & Go' takes but a few minutes and is a summary, only, of the day's events... and it only takes a few minutes of your time.
• ANN's Daily Briefing Aero-Cast: The Daily ANN Report (ANNRep for short), is a more comprehensive look at the day's news. We give you the whole buzz... the news and features that occupy the forefront of aviation news as well as solid background on the subjects that aviators and other aviation professionals need to stay informed on.
• ANN's Daily 'ASR' Feature Aero-Cast: Our daily 'Aero-News Special Report' involves a more in-depth view of a story or two that dominated (or will be dominating) the day's news. Far more detailed than any single story in our standard ANN Daily Reports, this is a solid chance to get a close look at the stories and topics that matter. ASR features may include exclusive interviews with Aviation's Newsmakers, ANN's Special Investigative reports and solid analysis of the stories that will have undeniable impact on the world of aviation and aerospace.

Check them out, let us know what you think and be sure to keep those news-tips and program suggestions coming... ANN is ALL about what YOU want to know about in the world of aviation and aerospace.

FMI: www.aero-news.net/podcasts