China conducted a test of a new warhead re-entry vehicle for the DF-31 long-range (6,000 miles) missile on 3 Jan, but it did not go well. The missile (a modified space booster) flew from a Chinese launch base and was intended to land in the Lop Nor test range in northwestern China. The booster blew up in mid-flight. The DF-31 is a long-range road-mobile missile thought to contain stolen US technology.--Stephen V Cole
