North Korea ignores calls with launch of 4th missile
Source: AFP |
May 20, 2013, Monday
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NORTH Korea test-fired a short-range missile off its east coast yesterday, its fourth in two days, despite pleas from South Korea and the United Nations chief to halt the launches.
The guided missile was fired into the Sea of Japan yesterday afternoon, a South Korean defense ministry spokesman said.
On Saturday, North Korea fired three short-range missiles off its east coast, apparently as part of a military drill.
Short-range missile launches are not unusual but come at a time of heightened alert on the Korea Peninsula, following Pyongyang's February nuclear test which sparked tougher UN sanctions.
Angered by the sanctions and by a joint US-South Korean military exercise, North Korea for weeks threatened nuclear or conventional attacks on Seoul and Washington.
South Korea and its US ally had earlier been watching for any test by North Korea of medium-range Musudan missiles. But a US defence official said early in May the two mid-range missiles had been moved from their launch site.
However South Korea's unification ministry, which handles cross-border relations, said the short-range launches also pose threats to the region and should be stopped immediately.
"We find it deplorable that North Korea does not stop provocative actions such as the launch of guided missiles yesterday," said unification ministry spokesman Kim Hyung-Seok, before the latest exercise.
"We call on North Korea to take responsible actions for our sake and for the sake of the international community."
UN chief Ban Ki-moon, speaking in Moscow, also called for Pyongyang to "refrain from" further missile tests.
He said it was time for North Korea to resume talks with the international community and reduce tensions.
The US State Department urged Pyongyang to exercise restraint, without specifically commenting on the launches.
It was unclear what type of missiles were fired over the weekend. South Korean military officials quoted by Yonhap news agency said they may be KN-02 surface-to-surface weapons with a range of up to 160 kilometers, or rockets of at least 300mm in calibre fired from a multiple launcher.
Seoul said efforts to present a united front were jeopardized by last week's surprise visit to North Korea by an adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. It described the visit as "unhelpful."
Abe said yesterday he would seek talks with Pyongyang to try to settle the nagging issue of its kidnapping of Japanese citizens, without risking his country's alliance with Washington and Seoul.
Apart from security matters, inter-Korean relations have been soured by the suspension of operations at a jointly-run industrial estate.
The Kaesong Industrial Complex, established just north of the border in 2004 as a rare symbol of cooperation, fell victim to the two months of elevated military tensions.
The guided missile was fired into the Sea of Japan yesterday afternoon, a South Korean defense ministry spokesman said.
On Saturday, North Korea fired three short-range missiles off its east coast, apparently as part of a military drill.
Short-range missile launches are not unusual but come at a time of heightened alert on the Korea Peninsula, following Pyongyang's February nuclear test which sparked tougher UN sanctions.
Angered by the sanctions and by a joint US-South Korean military exercise, North Korea for weeks threatened nuclear or conventional attacks on Seoul and Washington.
South Korea and its US ally had earlier been watching for any test by North Korea of medium-range Musudan missiles. But a US defence official said early in May the two mid-range missiles had been moved from their launch site.
However South Korea's unification ministry, which handles cross-border relations, said the short-range launches also pose threats to the region and should be stopped immediately.
"We find it deplorable that North Korea does not stop provocative actions such as the launch of guided missiles yesterday," said unification ministry spokesman Kim Hyung-Seok, before the latest exercise.
"We call on North Korea to take responsible actions for our sake and for the sake of the international community."
UN chief Ban Ki-moon, speaking in Moscow, also called for Pyongyang to "refrain from" further missile tests.
He said it was time for North Korea to resume talks with the international community and reduce tensions.
The US State Department urged Pyongyang to exercise restraint, without specifically commenting on the launches.
It was unclear what type of missiles were fired over the weekend. South Korean military officials quoted by Yonhap news agency said they may be KN-02 surface-to-surface weapons with a range of up to 160 kilometers, or rockets of at least 300mm in calibre fired from a multiple launcher.
Seoul said efforts to present a united front were jeopardized by last week's surprise visit to North Korea by an adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. It described the visit as "unhelpful."
Abe said yesterday he would seek talks with Pyongyang to try to settle the nagging issue of its kidnapping of Japanese citizens, without risking his country's alliance with Washington and Seoul.
Apart from security matters, inter-Korean relations have been soured by the suspension of operations at a jointly-run industrial estate.
The Kaesong Industrial Complex, established just north of the border in 2004 as a rare symbol of cooperation, fell victim to the two months of elevated military tensions.
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