Blair said North Korea is using its upcoming space launch as a cover for its intercontinental ballistic missile program.

VOA: standard.2009.03.26

"I think that North Korea is attempting to demonstrate an ICBM [i.e.,intercontinental ballistic missile capability through a space launch.

VOA: standard.2009.03.26

And that's what they're up to - trying to use the rationale of a legitimate space launch for a missile, which is in its foundation a military missile,".

VOA: standard.2009.03.26

The Clementine II, Kinetic-Kill Anti-Satellite and Military Space Plane programs are the technological seed corn for such crucial capabilities as space-based missile defenses, neutralizing enemy satellites and having prompt, reliable and inexpensive access to and use of space.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT CLINTON

Of particular concern, however, is the virtual elimination of work on space-based missile defenses in the present MDA budget and out-year plan.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | Restructure, don��t cut, the missile defense program; focus should be on deployment of near-term anti-missile systems

Putin's remarks in no way alluded to these uses of satellites in space but appeared targeted specifically at moves in the U.S. to deploy a space-based missile-defense system.

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