re: #170 lawhawk

North Korea says it’s fueling its rocket ahead of the planned launch.

What’s the takeaway from that? We’re talking about a liquid fueled rocket, not one with solid rocket boosters (SRBs). SRBs are the kinds of missiles/rockets that the US and Russians use as part of their ICBM/IRBM inventories because they’re transportable, stable, and generally dependable to launch on no notice. Liquid fueled boosters are used in the space shuttle and other launch platforms when you want to adjust the thrust during the launch or want the capability to shut down the rocket altogether.

In fact, both the US and Soviet Union had an all-liquid ICBM fleet into the 1960s, and the Russians only shifted to a solid-motor design in the 1980s or so. Solid-motor designs pose some additional guidance/navigation/control problems, and one would reasonably assume that the DPRK’s first strategic missiles would/will be liquid-fueled.

Just to be fair.