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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| North Korea test fires 2 more missiles |
| 2009-05-26 |
| 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 regime’s 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 Korea’s 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 Pyongyang’s 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 morning’s 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 |
| #4 IIRC FREEREPUBLIC > seems the NOKOR's MISSLE TEST COUNT is now up to SIX??? OTOH, TOPIX > US ADMIRAL [Mullen]: IRAN THREE YEARS AWAY FROM NUCLEAR BOMB??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-05-26 23:58 |
| #3 The Mouse That Roared? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-05-26 22:31 |
| #2 Assuming they're NOT criminally stupid, it's apparent they WANT to be attacked and invaded, there's no other easy way to eliminate excess population, and gain world sympathy (And cash, never forget cash) they're looking at other American conquered territories, Japan for example, and have decided it's better to lose to Americans, than starve and actually work at making a living, We Americans can be foolishly generous to defeated (former) Enemies. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-05-26 22:28 |
| #1 NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR THREAT / U.S. 'didn't give Japan advance N-test intel' Extracts from The Yomiuri Shimbun "This is the first time we've had no advance information from the U.S. military regarding North Korea's missile or nuclear [programs]," a dismayed senior Self-Defense Forces official said following a meeting at the Defense Ministry on Monday afternoon. Japan relies on the United States and South Korea for information on North Korea. But the senior SDF official believes Japan may have been passed over in the flow of information regarding earlier signs of North Korea's latest test. "It's believed South Korea picked up signs of a nuclear test several days before it was conducted," the official said. "I can't seriously believe South Korea wouldn't have informed the U.S. military of this activity. It's possible Japan was left out of the South Korea-United States-Japan route." The nuclear test came less than a month after Japan and the United States had collaborated closely with regard to the April 5 missile firing. However, another senior SDF official felt the United States might have known of the test in advance and did not pass on that information to Japan. "The U.S. military has various information-gathering methods and I can't believe they couldn't obtain information before [the test]," the official said. This situation, in which Washington may have failed to provide information to Tokyo, could be said to have exposed the parlous nature of the U.S.-Japan alliance. The latest test, which came on the back of last month's ballistic missile launch, could rekindle domestic debate on whether Japan should possess the ability to strike enemy bases within the scope of its defense-only policy. However, North Korea would not be the only country to oppose a Japan with a strong offensive capability. Countries such as China, Russia and South Korea also would surely protest if Japan took a more aggressive military stance. The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama remains indecisive about what kind of policy it should adopt toward North Korea. Under the circumstances, will the Unites States back Japan in its effort to deal with North Korea? To put that anxiety to rest, it is essential to maintain the Japan-U.S. alliance as a strong bond of bilateral security. (May. 27, 2009) |
| Posted by: Willy 2009-05-26 21:10 |