SK unveils missile it says can hit NK leader
Source: Agencies |
February 15, 2013, Friday
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Print Edition
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SOUTH Korea sternly warned North Korea yesterday, two days after Pyongyang tested a nuclear bomb, saying it could strike the state if it believed an attack was imminent as it deployed a new cruise missile to drive home its point.
North Korea conducted its third nuclear test on Tuesday, in defiance of UN resolutions, pushing it further along the path of developing a workable long-range nuclear missile.
Pyongyang said the test was meant to bolster its defenses due to the hostility of the United States, which has led a push to impose sanctions after its long-range missile launch.
North Korea yesterday repeated its warning that any further sanctions would provoke it into taking firmer action.
Seoul warned it would strike if attacked. South Korea has already relaxed rules allowing troops on the border to return fire directly without seeking permission from army chiefs.
"The cruise missile being unveiled today is a precision-guided weapon that can identify and strike the window of the office of North Korea's leadership," Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said.
The US and its allies are pushing for new sanctions at the UN Security Council aimed at slowing North Korea's nuclear and long-range missile work.
US President Barack Obama spoke to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday about North Korea's nuclear test and reaffirmed US commitments to Japan's security.
"They pledged to work closely together to seek significant action at the United Nations Security Council and to cooperate on measures aimed at impeding North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs," the White House said in a statement.
The US and its allies are trying to tighten the noose on North Korea's financial dealings to starve it of funding.
North Korea has repeatedly said it is planning what it terms "stronger measures" against the US and its allies, but it hasn't specified what those could be.
It is not capable of hitting the US, but its medium-range missiles can hit Japan and South Korea. It also has around 8,000 artillery systems stationed within 100 kilometers of the heavily militarized border between the two Koreas.
"If the US and its allies challenge the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with 'strong measures,' a 'financial freeze' and fresh pressure and 'sanctions' over its underground nuclear test, it will react to them with stronger measures for self-defense," its KCNA news agency said yesterday.
North Korea conducted its third nuclear test on Tuesday, in defiance of UN resolutions, pushing it further along the path of developing a workable long-range nuclear missile.
Pyongyang said the test was meant to bolster its defenses due to the hostility of the United States, which has led a push to impose sanctions after its long-range missile launch.
North Korea yesterday repeated its warning that any further sanctions would provoke it into taking firmer action.
Seoul warned it would strike if attacked. South Korea has already relaxed rules allowing troops on the border to return fire directly without seeking permission from army chiefs.
"The cruise missile being unveiled today is a precision-guided weapon that can identify and strike the window of the office of North Korea's leadership," Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said.
The US and its allies are pushing for new sanctions at the UN Security Council aimed at slowing North Korea's nuclear and long-range missile work.
US President Barack Obama spoke to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday about North Korea's nuclear test and reaffirmed US commitments to Japan's security.
"They pledged to work closely together to seek significant action at the United Nations Security Council and to cooperate on measures aimed at impeding North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs," the White House said in a statement.
The US and its allies are trying to tighten the noose on North Korea's financial dealings to starve it of funding.
North Korea has repeatedly said it is planning what it terms "stronger measures" against the US and its allies, but it hasn't specified what those could be.
It is not capable of hitting the US, but its medium-range missiles can hit Japan and South Korea. It also has around 8,000 artillery systems stationed within 100 kilometers of the heavily militarized border between the two Koreas.
"If the US and its allies challenge the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with 'strong measures,' a 'financial freeze' and fresh pressure and 'sanctions' over its underground nuclear test, it will react to them with stronger measures for self-defense," its KCNA news agency said yesterday.
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