WORLD / Asia-Pacific
N.Korea confirms missile tests, vows more launches
(AP)
Updated: 2006-07-06 13:31
SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea on Thursday acknowledged that it had
test-fired missiles and vowed to launch more, threatening to take even
stronger action if opponents of the tests put pressure on the country.
A satellite image from DigitalGlobe collected on June 9, 2006 shows
Musudan-ri in No Dong, North Korea, the area where a missile facility is
located. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said on July 5, 2006 that
North Korea launched five missiles including a long-range Taepodong 2
missile. [Reuters/DigitalGlobe]
The further show of defiance by Pyongyang came amid intense diplomatic
jockeying by the United States and its allies to prod the U.N. Security
Council to take stern action against the North's seven missile tests on
Wednesday.
The North Korean Foreign Ministry, in a statement made through the
state-run Korean Central News Agency, insisted that the country had the
right to test its missiles and argued the weapons were needed for defense.
"The successful missile launches were part of our military's regular
military drills to strengthen self defense," said the statement. "As a
sovereign country, this is our legal right and we are not bound by any
international law or bilateral or multilateral agreements."
The ministry also appeared to confirm mounting fears in South Korea that
the North was preparing for further launches. South Korean officials said
intelligence showed continued activity at Northern missile sites.
It said North Korea remains committed to a denuclearised peninsula and
the tests conducted on Wednesday were not related to stalled six-party
talks aimed at ending its nuclear weapons programmes.
Pyongyang also vowed to retaliate against efforts to interfere with the
launches, but it did not elaborate.
"Our military will continue with missile launch drills in the future as
part of efforts to strengthen self-defense deterrent. If anyone intends
to dispute or add pressure about this, we will have to take stronger
physical actions in other forms," the statement said.
At the same time, splits emerged among the critics of the North's testing
program.
At the United Nations in New York, China and Russia said only diplomacy
could halt North Korea's nuclear and rocket development programs.
In a bid to coordinate strategy, U.S. President George W. Bush held
separate telephone talks Thursday morning with the leaders of Japan and
South Korea - his two top allies in the region - to consult on the North,
but with different results.
Japanese officials said Tokyo and Washington agreed to push for sanctions
against Pyongyang, while South Korean officials said they agreed only to
cooperate in diplomacy, with no mention of punishing North Korea.
The missiles, all of which apparently fell harmlessly into the sea east
of the Korean Peninsula on Wednesday, provoked international concerns,
the convening of an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council and
calls in Japan for economic sanctions.
South Korean media reported Thursday that North Korea has three or four
more missiles on launch pads and ready for firing, while the Japanese
government said there were no immediate signs of long-range missile
launch.
Page: 1 2
Related Stories
� N.Korea confirms missile tests; sanctions opposed
===========================================================================
� North Korea tests 7th missile amid furor
===========================================================================
� China urges calm over missile tests
===========================================================================
� N. Korea fires long-range missile
===========================================================================
� N.Korea launches missiles, UN to meet
===========================================================================
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Today's Top News
� N.Korea confirms missile tests, vows more launches
� Zidane steers France to World Cup final
� Chinese cars target US auto show
� India, China reopen Silk Road pass
� China urges calm over missile tests
Top World News
� Mexico reviewing presidential vote tallies
� N. Korea may fire more missiles - S.Korea
� East Timor: List of PM candidates comes out
� World condemns DPRK missile tests
� Israeli military to expand Gaza operation
Alibaba is the largest B2B marketplace in the world. Source model ship,
wooden puzzle, one-piece toilet, RC hovercraft, photo album, prom dress,
pocket bike, Vaginal Speculum, Samurai Sword, String Panty and PVC Pipe.
Learn Chinese, Chinese language, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment