Fourth of July celebrations muted as North Korea launches 7 missiles, threatens Hawaii

July 4, 7:44 AMAustin International Travel ExaminerRobert Schrader

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It has been speculated that North Korea may launch
a missile toward Hawaii today, following tests of seven
short range missiles early Saturday morning and four
on Thursday.

July 4th celebrations in Hawaii will be marred with an air of caution, every fireworks sunburst in the sky scrutinized, following reports from Japan last month that North Korea was planning to launch a missile at the state on or around Independence Day. The defiant regime's military fired a series of seven short-range Scud missiles off its east coast early Saturday morning, South Korean news agency Yonhap is reporting.

The accelerated launching of missiles, which has been ramped up since Thursday's heavily-criticized test, has lead some to believe that a long range missile aimed toward the United States could be next. Several International officials, however, have said that such a launch is unlikely, with British Ambassador to North Korea David Hughes having been quoted as saying that Pyongyang plans only to fire medium-range missiles, which are incapable of reaching US territory.

Tension toward the Asian rogue state has run high this week. In addition to Thursday's aforementioned missile tests, a North Korean tanker, the Kang Nam 1, had been drifting eastward through the South China Sea. Though Washington and Seoul were initially rather concerned about the trajectory of the ship, which had been moving eastward for nearly two weeks, the rusty vessel turned back Wednesday and was reported only to have been carrying small arms shortly thereafter. Additionally, the United States froze assetts of two firms connected with North Korean uranium enrichment, hoping to send a different kind of message to the destitute nation, whose economy is but 2% the size of its southern neighbor's. The country, which is strictly communist and requires almost cultlike loyalty to its leader Kim Jong-Il, shocked the world this week when it began airing a beer advertisement on its television stations, believed to be the first ever.

In the wake of the ever-growing financial penalties being levied on North Korea by members of the International community each day, a question remains: could a drive to increase tourism follow the emergence of advertising as a means of generating revenue? It has been speculated that a drastic liberalization of the famine-stricken, impoverished country may occur, its dictator rumored to be in declining health since last August, when he was reported to have suffered a stroke. For all updates on the North Korea missile situation, as well as destination profiles, money-saving tips and more, stay tuned to the Austin International Travel Examiner.