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North Korea preparing to launch more missiles: reports CBC News July 06, 2006 North Korea is reportedly preparing to launch three or four more missiles including another long-range Taepodong-2, despite international condemnation for test-firing a flurry of missiles into the Sea of Japan Tuesday and Wednesday. The missiles are said to be either short-or medium-range, and are on launch pads and ready for firing, major South Korean newspapers reported Thursday. NBC News reported that North Korea was also preparing to to launch another long-range Taepodong-2 missile but the missile is not yet on the launch pad. North Korea has test-fired at least seven missiles in 24 hours, sparking worldwide condemnation for breaking a moratorium in place since 1999. The long-range Taepodong-2, believed to be able to reach continental North America, fell short of its target shortly after being launched Tuesday. The latest launch came several hours after a bout of sustained activity, during which five short-range models crashed into the Sea of Japan. Japan, which called for swift action from the United Nations Security Council, circulated a resolution to the council's 15 members demanding member nations withhold funds, goods and technology that could be used for North Korea's missile program. The resolution was backed by the U.S. and Britain. But China, North Korea's most important ally, and Russia said they favour a weaker council statement without any threat of sanctions. Both countries hold veto power in the council. The others are the U.S., France and Britain. China's UN ambassador, Wang Guangya, said he favoured a statement rather than a resolution or sanctions, Reuters reported. Russia's UN Ambassador Vitali Churkin also said he favours a diplomatic solution. No agreement was reached. Council members meet again on Thursday. U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, repeating Washington's position that the issue is not solely between the U.S. and North Korea but is a world concern, said there was little support for Pyongyang during the council meeting. "No member defended what North Korea had done," Bolton said. Join six-party talks: Bush U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she doesn't know what the motivation for the missile launches is, but said they've drawn a strong reaction from the international community. Rice, speaking Wednesday with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, said Pyongyang would be wise to abandon brinkmanship and return to six-party talks on its weapons program. U.S. President George W. Bush, who in 2002 called North Korea, Iraq and Iran an "axis of evil," said the missile firings further isolate the country. Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com "North Korea can join the community of nations and improve its lot by acting in concert with those of us who believe it shouldn't possess nuclear weapons," said Bush. The U.S. is sending its chief North Korea negotiator, Christopher Hill, to the region later this week. Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay added Canada's voice to the world condemnation on Wednesday, calling the launches a "major threat" to stability in the region. Echoing Rice, MacKay chided Pyongyang for its use of "brinkmanship" in dealing with the international community. "Canada believes that such tactics are counterproductive and ultimately destined to fail," he said in a news release posted on the Foreign Affairs Department's website. Missiles failed White House press secretary Tony Snow said the U.S. military believes the long-range Taepodong-2's flight was not aborted, but was a "launch failure." The intercontinental missile dropped into the Sea of Japan 42 seconds after it was launched. Bush administration officials have characterized it as a "failure." Analysts with the military magazine Jane's Defence Weekly say the missile launches, while brief, provide North Korea with some data and experience that could be used in future launches. Officials at North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) in Colorado are studying the long-range missile's telemetry to determine its path and the nations over which it could have flown. It's believed North Korea last test-fired missiles in 1998. The Taepodong-1 crossed Japanese airspace before landing in the sea. It announced a missile-launch moratorium a year later, a ban it said last month no longer applied. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
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North Korea preparing to launch more missiles: reports

CBC News
July 06, 2006

World North Korea is reportedly preparing to launch three or four more missiles including another long-range Taepodong-2, despite international condemnation for test-firing a flurry of missiles into the Sea of Japan Tuesday and Wednesday.

The missiles are said to be either short-or medium-range, and are on launch pads and ready for firing, major South Korean newspapers reported Thursday.

NBC News reported that North Korea was also preparing to to launch another long-range Taepodong-2 missile but the missile is not yet on the launch pad.

North Korea has test-fired at least seven missiles in 24 hours, sparking worldwide condemnation for breaking a moratorium in place since 1999.

The long-range Taepodong-2, believed to be able to reach continental North America, fell short of its target shortly after being launched Tuesday. The latest launch came several hours after a bout of sustained activity, during which five short-range models crashed into the Sea of Japan.

Japan, which called for swift action from the United Nations Security Council, circulated a resolution to the council's 15 members demanding member nations withhold funds, goods and technology that could be used for North Korea's missile program. The resolution was backed by the U.S. and Britain.

But China, North Korea's most important ally, and Russia said they favour a weaker council statement without any threat of sanctions. Both countries hold veto power in the council. The others are the U.S., France and Britain.

China's UN ambassador, Wang Guangya, said he favoured a statement rather than a resolution or sanctions, Reuters reported. Russia's UN Ambassador Vitali Churkin also said he favours a diplomatic solution.

No agreement was reached. Council members meet again on Thursday.

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, repeating Washington's position that the issue is not solely between the U.S. and North Korea but is a world concern, said there was little support for Pyongyang during the council meeting.

"No member defended what North Korea had done," Bolton said.

Join six-party talks: Bush

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she doesn't know what the motivation for the missile launches is, but said they've drawn a strong reaction from the international community.

Rice, speaking Wednesday with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, said Pyongyang would be wise to abandon brinkmanship and return to six-party talks on its weapons program.

U.S. President George W. Bush, who in 2002 called North Korea, Iraq and Iran an "axis of evil," said the missile firings further isolate the country.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

"North Korea can join the community of nations and improve its lot by acting in concert with those of us who believe it shouldn't possess nuclear weapons," said Bush.

The U.S. is sending its chief North Korea negotiator, Christopher Hill, to the region later this week.

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay added Canada's voice to the world condemnation on Wednesday, calling the launches a "major threat" to stability in the region. Echoing Rice, MacKay chided Pyongyang for its use of "brinkmanship" in dealing with the international community.

"Canada believes that such tactics are counterproductive and ultimately destined to fail," he said in a news release posted on the Foreign Affairs Department's website.

Missiles failed

White House press secretary Tony Snow said the U.S. military believes the long-range Taepodong-2's flight was not aborted, but was a "launch failure."

The intercontinental missile dropped into the Sea of Japan 42 seconds after it was launched. Bush administration officials have characterized it as a "failure."

Analysts with the military magazine Jane's Defence Weekly say the missile launches, while brief, provide North Korea with some data and experience that could be used in future launches.

Officials at North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) in Colorado are studying the long-range missile's telemetry to determine its path and the nations over which it could have flown.

It's believed North Korea last test-fired missiles in 1998. The Taepodong-1 crossed Japanese airspace before landing in the sea. It announced a missile-launch moratorium a year later, a ban it said last month no longer applied.

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