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North Korea test-fires missiles in message of defiance to US
South Korea says North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles off its eastern coast yesterday, a violation of United Nations (UN) resolutions and an apparent message of defiance to the US on its Independence Day.
- AP
- Published: 10:46 July 4, 2009
- Image Credit: Gulf News archive
- The launches, which came two days after North Korea fired four short-range missiles
Seoul, South Korea: South Korea says North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles off its eastern coast yesterday, a violation of United Nations (UN) resolutions and an apparent message of defiance to the US on its Independence Day.
The launches, which came two days after North Korea fired what were believed to be four short-range cruise missiles, will likely further escalate tension in the region as the US tries to muster support for tough enforcement of the latest UN Security Council resolution imposed on the communist regime for its May nuclear test.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said three missiles were fired early yesterday, a fourth around noon and three more in the afternoon. The Defence Ministry said the missiles were ballistic and were believed to have flown more than 250 miles (400km).
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles had a range 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, were seen as more provocative as the missiles could potentially reach most of South Korea, and 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 site 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 Northeast Asia."
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.
"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.
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