N Korea fires four short-range missiles |
N Korea fires four short-range missiles | 3.07.2009 | |
The missiles - apparently surface-to-ship ones - were fired into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) between 5.20pm local time (6.20pm AEST) and 9.20pm (10.20pm AEST) yesterday, defence ministry officials were quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency.
All were fired from a base at Sinsang-ri, near the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, a spokesman was quoted as saying.
Other officials told the agency on condition of anonymity they landed about 100 kilometres off the coast, where the North has imposed a maritime ban until July 11 for what it calls a military drill.
Spokesmen from the defence ministry confirmed the first three firings to AFP but could not be reached for comment on the fourth.
It was the first military action that the hardline communist state has taken since the United Nations on June 12 imposed tougher sanctions for its May 25 nuclear test.
South Korea`s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper, quoting an intelligence source, said the North in the coming days is likely to fire a series of short-range missiles.
Apart from ground-to-ship weapons, it said these would likely include Scud-B missiles with a range of 340km.
The North may also fire Rodongs, whose 1300-km range would likely be shortened to about 400km for the current round of testing, the paper predicted.
In the days after its atomic test - the second since 2006 - Pyongyang had fired a total of six short-range missiles and renounced the truce in force on the Korean peninsula.
In response to the UN resolution tightening curbs on its missile and atomic activities, it vowed to build more nuclear bombs.
US and South Korean officials believe ailing leader Kim Jong-Il, 67, is staging a show of strength to bolster his authority as he tries to put in place a succession plan involving his youngest son.
Japan`s Prime Minister Taro Aso condemned the launches, saying: "We have repeatedly warned that such a provocative act is not beneficial for North Korea`s national interest."
In Beijing, a US delegation met officials for talks on giving the UN sanctions more teeth.
The support of China, the North`s sole major ally and largest trade partner, is seen as crucial in making the sanctions stick.
The delegation, led by Philip Goldberg - the State Department`s point man on coordinating implementation of the sanctions - met officials from the foreign ministry.
His team includes members of the National Security Council and the departments of Treasury and Defence.
Mr Goldberg declined comment on China`s position.
"The US position is that we want all the various aspects of the resolutions to work," he said. "It is our intention to fully implement the resolutions." |
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