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The 1998 Taepodong-1 Launch: North Korea's First Ballistic Missile Test

The 1998 Taepodong-1 Launch: North Korea's First Ballistic Missile Test

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In August 1998, North Korea shocked the world by launching a ballistic missile over Japan — the Taepodong-1. At the time, the country was reeling from famine, its economy in ruins, its diplomatic isolation near-total. How did Pyongyang pull it off? This episode traces the secretive missile program from its Soviet-era roots, through the acquisition of Scud technology from Egypt, to the illicit network of suppliers that kept it alive during the Arduous March. We explore the role of the Maddi factory, the Nodong medium-range missile, and the personal involvement of Kim Jong-il, who staked his legitimacy on the program. The launch itself — dubbed a 'satellite' attempt by the North — triggered a crisis in Tokyo and Washington, reshaped security policy in East Asia, and set the stage for the nuclear tests to come. Along the way, we discuss the Yongbyon nuclear complex, the A.Q. Khan network, and the enduring question: what did Kim Jong-il really want? #Taepodong1 #NorthKorea #BallisticMissiles #KimJongIl #ArduousMarch #Nodong #Scud #Yongbyon #EastAsiaSecurity #1998 #MissileLaunch #Japan #A.Q.Khan #MaddiFactory #Famine #NuclearProgram #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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