N Korea fires off seventh 'provocative' Scud

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/04/2616873.htm?section=justin

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200907/r394042_1843916.asx

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200907/r394111_1844169.asx

N Korea fires off seventh 'provocative' Scud

By North Asia correspondent Mark Willacy and wires
04/07/09

Japan has accused North Korea of committing a serious act of provocation as the communist state continues to launch missiles in defiance of world condemnation.

A seventh missile was fired off its eastern coast into the Sea of Japan, said South Korea's Defence Ministry. The other six missiles were fired in the same area.

All are Scud-type missiles, with a range of 500 kilometres, capable of reaching South Korea and possibly parts of Japan.

Japan's Kyodo news agency reported the North may have fired at least one Rodong, a mid-range missile that can fly about 1,000km to 1,400km and hit all of South Korea and most of Japan.

Japan, a party to currently suspended six-nation talks aimed at coaxing the isolated North to give up its nuclear program in return for aid and greater diplomatic recognition, was quick to condemn Pyongyang's latest action.

"Japan strongly protests and regrets today's missile launches by North Korea as they are a serious act of provocation against the security of neighbouring countries, including Japan, and is against the resolution of the UN Security Council," Japan's foreign ministry said in a statement.

There are a number of theories about Pyongyang's motives for the tests.

The first is that it may simply be wanting to enhance its strategic threat, thereby strengthening its negotiating hand with the international community.

The second theory is that maybe this is simply the act of a logical state that feels itself under the deep threat from a number of enemies whom it has discovered it simply cannot trust.

But the third reason is that this pattern of events, the underground test and missile launches, may be more designed to send an internal political message, and may be more to do with shoring up the position of an ageing and possibly ill leader in Pyongyang.

Two days ago the Stalinist state launched two short-range missiles, further heightening tensions on the Korean peninsula.

It is feared Pyongyang will next try to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile with a theoretical range of 6,000 kilometres

The missile launches have further stoked regional tensions already high due to its nuclear test in May.

North Korea is barred by United Nations resolutions from firing ballistic missiles such as the Scud.

South Korean Defence Ministry sources earlier confirmed the North fired four missiles off its east coast that travelled for about 400km, which would indicate it fired ballistic missiles. The sources would not confirm the type of missiles.

North Korea is thought to have more than 600 Scud-type missiles that include the Hwasong-5, with a range of about 300km and the Hwasong-6, with a range of about 500km.

- ABC/BBC/Reuters

[eternal_spirit]

Japan's Kyodo news agency reported the North may have fired at least one Rodong, a mid-range missile that can fly about 1,000km to 1,400km and hit all of South Korea and most of Japan.

communist state continues to launch missiles in defiance of world condemnation.
the Stalinist state
Good ol Uncle Joe huh:rolleyes:

[lizzy]

http://rense.gsradio.net:8080/rense/http/MP3Download/Jun2009/7vj49e/rense_063009_hr1.mp3

towards the end of this audio Rifat theorizes on this.......(not sure this will be the way it goes down though)

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7 "skuds" misiles, not Rodong.

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Missiles an 'Independence Day warning' to US

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/04/2616966.htm?section=justin

04/07/09

North Korea test-fired seven missiles off its east coast, South Korean officials said, in what appeared to be a calculated message of defiance timed for the US Independence Day holiday.

The launches fuelled regional tensions after the communist state's nuclear test in May, which coincided with the US Memorial Day holiday.

They came as Washington seeks support for tough enforcement of United Nations sanctions aimed at shutting down the North's nuclear and missile programs.

Seoul's foreign ministry said the first four weapons launched into the Sea of Japan (East Sea) were ballistic missiles, which the North is banned from firing under various Security Council resolutions.

South Korea's military said the fifth, sixth and seventh missiles were of the same type. The seventh was fired at 5:40pm (local time).

It was the first time in three years that the North had fired multiple ballistic missiles. It test-fired a long-range Taepodong-2 missile, along with six and mid-range missiles, on US Independence Day in 2006.

Professor Kim Yong-Hyun of Seoul's Dongguk University said the launches were clearly timed to coincide with Independence Day again.

"This is a thinly veiled warning to the United States and the international community that it may launch long-range missiles next time," he said.

"The North is exercising salami tactics, firing short-range missiles on Thursday and launching missiles with longer range today."

Professor Yang Moo-Jin at Seoul's University of North Korean Studies said the North was trying to show it could defend its long-range missile launch site at Musudan-ri further to the north, and "testing the waters" following the UN resolution.

Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles had a range of between 400km and 500km but declined to say what type they were. Yonhap news agency said they were either Scuds, or Rodong-1 missiles whose maximum range of 1,300km had been shortened.

The North on Thursday test-fired four short-range missiles with a range of 120km into the Sea of Japan.

The latest launches, which started at 8:00am (local time), were seen as more provocative since the missiles could potentially reach most of South Korea, and possibly parts of Japan.

"The military, on the basis of a strong joint defence alliance with the United States, is fully prepared to fend off any threats or provocations by the North," the Joint Chiefs said in a statement.

The foreign ministry said the missiles were fired from a base at Kitdaeryong near the eastern port of Wonsan.

It said the "provocative act... clearly violates" three UN Security Council resolutions, including the latest one on June 12 which toughened weapons-related sanctions on the North in response to its May 25 nuclear test.

In a statement the ministry expressed "deep regret over North Korea's continued acts to escalate tensions in North East Asia."

Japan condemned the launches.

"It is a serious act of provocation against the security of neighbouring countries, including our country," Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said.

Mr Kawamura warned Tokyo would "promptly take appropriate measures" to implement the resolution.

Baek Seung-Joo of the Korea Institute for Defence Analyses said the North test-fires missiles three to four times each year to improve technology and maintain missile exports.

"Today's launches were part of a usual military drill but by firing 500 km-range Scuds, the North was clearly displaying its ability to strike back against any international sanctions involving military means," Mr Baek said.

He said, however, that there is no sign of the North preparing to fire another long-range missile in the near future.

The North has made a series of bellicose moves this year.

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, Kim Jong-Un.

A long-range rocket launch on April 5 was followed by a nuclear test - the second since 2006 - on May 25.

In the days after its atomic test, Pyongyang fired a total of six short-range missiles, renounced the truce in force on the Korean peninsula for half a century and threatened possible attacks on Seoul.

When the United Nations in June tightened sanctions on its missile and atomic activities, the North vowed to build more nuclear bombs.

- AFP

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/05/2616991.htm?section=justin

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200907/r394228_1844741.asx

Don't aggravate tensions, US warns N Korea

05/07/09

The United States has urged North Korea not to "aggravate tensions" as it slammed Pyongyang's latest missile test, apparently timed for the US Independence Day holiday, as "not helpful".

"North Korea should refrain from actions that aggravate tensions and focus on denuclearisation talks and the implementation of its commitments from the September 19, 2005 joint statement," said State Department spokesman Karl Duckworth.

"This type of North Korean behaviour is not helpful," he said after North Korea test-fired seven missiles off its east coast on Saturday according to South Korean officials.

The ballistic missiles - which the North is banned from firing under UN resolutions - were launched into the Sea of Japan.

It was the biggest salvo of ballistic weaponry since the North fired a long-range Taepodong-2 and six smaller missiles on US Independence Day in 2006.

Under the 2005 agreement, North Korea promised to give up its nuclear program in exchange for a US pledge not to attack or invade it and to work toward normalised relations.

The United States and other parties to the agreement - China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea - also offered to put together an energy package for North Korea.

But North Korea announced last April that it was walking out of the six-party talks and resuming operation of its nuclear facilities.

Pyongyang conducted its second nuclear test in May.

"What North Korea needs to do is fulfil its international obligations and commitments," Mr Duckworth said, adding that North Korean missile launches "highlight the importance of fully implementing the provisions of the UN resolutions".

Professor Kim Yong-Hyun of Seoul's Dongguk University said the launches were clearly timed to coincide with US Independence Day.

"This is a thinly veiled warning to the United States and the international community that it may launch long-range missiles next time," he said.

Chinese officials and their Russian counterparts said Saturday after a meeting in Moscow that both countries are "convinced" there is no alternative to the six-party talks.

China, which supported the UN resolution, has been criticised by the United States in the past for lacking enthusiasm for implementing UN sanctions against North Korea, its neighbour and ally.

In Israel, Trade and Industry Minister Benjamin Ben-Elizer blasted the US response to the latest missile launches.

"I am very concerned about the United States's reaction to North Korea's gross provocation," Mr Ben-Eliezer said in a speech delivered outside Tel Aviv.

- AFP