|
North Korea test fires 2 more missiles
SEOUL, South Korea North Korea launched tests Tuesday of two more short-range missiles a day after detonating a nuclear bomb underground, a news report said, pushing the regimes confrontation with world powers further despite the threat of U.N. Security Council action.Two missiles one ground-to-air, the other ground-to-ship with a range of about 80 miles were test-fired from an east coast launch pad, South Koreas Yonhap news agency reported, citing an unnamed government official. South Korean spy chief Won Sei-hoon had informed lawmakers earlier Tuesday that a missile test was likely, according to the office of Park Young-sun, a legislator who attended the closed-door briefing. Yonhap reported that North Korea was preparing to launch a third missile from a west coast site, again citing an unnamed official. North Korea appeared to be displaying its might a day after conducting an underground atomic test in the northeast that the U.N. Security Council condemned as a clear violation of a 2006 resolution banning the regime from developing its nuclear program. France called for new sanctions, while the U.S. and Japan pushed for strong action against North Korea for testing a bomb that Russian officials said was comparable in power to those that obliterated Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. South Korea, meanwhile, announced it would join a maritime web of more than 90 nations that intercept ships suspected of spreading weapons of mass destruction a move North Korea warned would constitute an act of war. North Korea had threatened in recent weeks to carry out a nuclear test and fire long-range missiles unless the Security Council apologized for condemning Pyongyangs April 5 launch of a rocket the U.S., Japan and other nations called a test of its long-range missile technology. The North has said it put a satellite into orbit as part of its peaceful space development program. Monday mornings nuclear test appeared to catch the world by surprise, but Won told lawmakers that Beijing and Washington knew Pyongyang was planning a test some 20-25 minutes before it was carried out, said Choi Kyu-ha, an aide to lawmaker Park. Won said Pyongyang warned it would test the bomb unless the head of the Security Council offered an immediate apology. Russia said the test went off at 9:54 a.m. local time (0054 GMT) Monday. Won confirmed that two short-range missile tests from an east coast launch pad followed. Yonhap reported that three missile tests were carried out Monday, and two more Tuesday. Posted by: tu3031 2009-05-26 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=270537 |