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(S//SI) Watching for -- and Predicting -- the North Korean Missile
Test Flight
FROM: Colonel
HSID Director
Run Date: 08/09/2006
, USAF
(U//FOUO) Presenting the latest quarterly update from NSA/CSS Hawaii...
(S//SI) While the rest of the world waited in great anticipation for the first test flight of the
North Korean Taepodong II (TD-2) ICBM/SLV*, the NSA/CSS Hawaii Signals Intelligence
Directorate (HSID) was in the know. As part of an immense nationally coordinated effort, HSID
was proud to contribute collection, analysis and reporting from the first crisis indications to the
actual missile launch.
(S//SI) The HSID North Korea Military Operations Department (HS2B4) successfully established
a round-the-clock Missile Crisis Cell jointly manned by senior civilian and military analysts as the
launches became imminent. Mr.
, the department's senior missile expert, stated,
"We developed and provided daily updates to a SIGINT-based missile cycle time-line
incorporating historical data from 1991, 1993, 1998, and 2004 missile activity." Based on
historical data, target country knowledge, and key indicators, he and other analysts were able to
help the Intelligence Community calculate windows of predictability for the actual launches.
(S//SI) NSA-H analysts fused multi-source data, collecting all available communications.
According to
a senior watch analyst, "Available communications consisted of
manual Morse and communications checks by range-clearance vessels." This data confirmed the
involvement of the two North Korean vessels and enabled NSA-H and other SIGINT producers to
database these vessels for possible involvement in future launches.
(S//SI) At 1833Z** and 1904Z on 4 July 2006, one SCUD-class Short-Range Ballistic Missile
(SRBM) and one NODONG-class SRBM respectively launched out of Kittaeryong, North Korea
into the closure area. Approximately 90 seconds later, the TD-2's maiden test flight launched.
Moments after take-off the missile exploded leaving no indications of its final destination.
(U//FOUO) Establishment of the Missile Crisis Cell, external coordination and extensive
knowledge of our experts provided quick-action preparedness and results. The launch of the TD2 left us poised and ready with more capabilities to handle future threats.
(U) Notes:
* ICBM = Intercontinental Ballistic Missile; SLV = Satellite Launch Vehicle
** For new employees: ZULU time equates to "Coordinated Universal Time," aka Greenwich
Mean Time. See the following web page for more details about time conversion, along with a
chart (about halfway down the page) showing the A-to-Z time zones: Time-conversion tutorial .
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
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DERIVED FROM: 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108