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North Korea 'plans rocket launch'

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"N Korea 'deploying more missiles" !

N Korea 'deploying more missiles'
North Korea has recently completed the deployment of new medium-range missiles capable of reaching more parts of Asia, South Korea says.

The communist nation also bolstered its special forces and its navy, a Ministry of Defence white paper said.

North Korea and its 1.19 million troops constituted a "direct and serious threat", the report said.

The white paper comes amid speculation that Pyongyang could be planning to test-fire a new long-range missile.

It also comes amid heightened tension between the two Koreas, over South Korean leader Lee Myung-bak's decision to link economic aid to progress on denuclearisation.

Observers believe Pyongyang could test-fire its Taepodong-2 missile in a bid to improve its bargaining power with the new US administration over the stalled aid-for-disarmament deal.

The industry journal, Jane's Defence Weekly, is reporting that its analysis of satellite imagery suggests a test launch could take place within the next few days.

Infiltrate

According to the white paper, the new medium-range missiles can travel up to 3,000km (1,860 miles) - putting much of North and South East Asia within range - and carry a warhead of up to 650kg (1,430lb).

The report, which is issued every two years, did not say how many of the missiles had been deployed.

But it said North Korea had also reinforced its navy by bolstering its submarines.

The overall size of the military had grown by 20,000, it said, and the number of special forces troops - lightly-equipped soldiers trained to infiltrate the South - went up by a third to 180,000.

"Their aim appears to blur the line between friend and foe once a conflict erupts," Yonhap news agency quoted Shin Won-Sik, the defence ministry's deputy of policy planning, as saying.

The report estimated North Korea's plutonium stock at 40kg - enough for at least five nuclear weapons.

"North Korea's developing and reinforcing of conventional weaponry, as well as the weapons of mass destruction like nuclear and missiles, and the front-line deployment of military power are a direct and serious threat to our security," the white paper said.

North Korea carried out its first nuclear test in October 2006. But experts believe it does not yet have the technology to make a nuclear warhead small enough to mount on a missile.

Story from BBC NEWS:
BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | N Korea 'deploying more missiles'

Published: 2009/02/23 11:45:14 GMT

© BBC MMIX

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North Korea 'plans rocket launch' !

North Korea has announced that it is preparing to launch a rocket carrying a communications satellite.

It did not give a date for the launch, but said it would mark a great step forward for the communist state.

Correspondents say the statement is Pyongyang's clearest reference yet to what neighbours believe may be the imminent test of a long-range missile.

When it tested the Taepodong-1 missile in 1998, it claimed to have put a satellite in orbit.

In July 2006 it test-fired the three-stage long-range Taepodong-2, but the missile failed shortly after launch.

North Korea's move comes amid heightened tensions with South Korea, and with Pyongyang pushing for a top spot on the agenda of the new US administration.

Alaska reach

The announcement came in a statement from the national space agency, carried by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"Full-scale preparations are under way to launch a rocket Unha-2 to put communication satellite Kwangmyongsong-2 into orbit," it said.

"When this satellite is successfully launched, our space technology will make a great step forward toward becoming an economically strong country."

The launch is planned from a base in Hwadae in the northeast of the country, the statement said.

Satellite images showed activity at the site, but there was no missile on the launch pad, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing an intelligence official.

The base in Hwadae, called Musudan-ri, was where North Korea test-fired its long-range Taepodong-2 in 2006.

There are fears that the missile, with a theoretical range of 6,700 km (4,200 miles), could be used to target the US state of Alaska.

But when the missile was last tested, it failed within a minute and fell into the sea.

'Threatening act'

North Korea's move comes with talks on an aid-for-disarmament deal - involving the US, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea - currently stalled.

Relations between the two Koreas are also tense following South President Lee Myung-bak's decision to link the provision of bilateral aid to progress on denuclearisation. Pyongyang has recently scrapped several peace agreements with Seoul.

The mooted launch also follows speculation about the health of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, who is believed to have suffered a stroke in mid-2008.

On a trip to Asia last week, the new US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned North Korea against any rash moves, saying a test-launch would be "unhelpful".

South Korean Defence Minister Lee Sang-hee urged North Korea to provide evidence to support its claim of a satellite, rather than missile, launch.

"Whether it is a missile or a satellite, it is similar technology. In either case, we believe it is a threatening act towards us and we are preparing to deal with it accordingly," he added.

Japan said it was currently assessing the situation and China said it had taken note of the matter, while calling for stability in the region.

North Korea tested a nuclear weapon in October 2006. But experts say it does not yet have the technology to make a nuclear warhead small enough to mount on a missile.



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Story from BBC NEWS:
BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | North Korea 'plans rocket launch'

Published: 2009/02/24 09:59:25 GMT

© BBC MMIX

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US warns North Korea over missile !

The commander of US forces in South Korea has said he has not ruled out a military response if North Korea test-fires a long-range missile.

US General Walter Sharp urged North Korea to cease what he referred to as provocations, and behave like a responsible country.

North Korea is reported to be preparing to test-fire a long-range missile.

South Korea's President, Lee Myung-Bak, has also said he will stand firm in the face of threats from the North.

Tension in the Korean peninsula has risen in recent weeks - with the North warning that it considers itself on the brink of war with the South.

Satellite evidence

According to the South Korean media, recent satellite spy photos show a large cylindrical object being moved towards North Korea's long-range missile site.


Speaking at a press conference for foreign journalists, General Walter Sharp - the commander of the more than 28,000 American troops stationed in South Korea - said he would not confirm what is, or is not, known by intelligence sources.
But when asked what he would do if North Korea was to proceed with a long-range missile test, he said: "We have all available options open to us".

"That includes everything from diplomatic to economic sanctions, to military options," he said.

"Of course we very much want the military option to be the last to be taken but those options are all open to us."

North Korea's last long-range missile test in 2006 was met with international condemnation and UN sanctions, but no military action.


RECENT TENSIONS

Dec 07: Lee Myung-bak wins South Korean presidential election. Vows tougher line on the North
March 08: North expels S Koreans from joint industrial park after Seoul says it will link its aid more closely to the nuclear disarmament issue
April 08: N Korean media warns President Lee his tough stance could have "catastrophic consequences"
July 08: Pyongyang rejects President Lee's offer of direct talks
Oct 08: Military officials from both sides hold first direct talks since President Lee took office
Nov 08: N Korea says it will close land borders, suspend tourism trips and the joint train service because of "relentless confrontation" from Seoul
Dec 08: N Korea enforces stricter border controls and expels hundreds of South Koreans from the joint industrial zone
Jan 09: The North says it is scrapping all military and political pacts signed with the South
Diplomatic tension has been rising in recent weeks, with increasingly angry rhetoric coming from North Korea, warning that relations with the South have reached what it called "the brink of war".

Some analysts believe this is mere posturing as an attempt to strengthen its negotiating position with the new US administration.

But inter-Korean relations have steadily deteriorated significantly since the conservative Mr Lee took office in Seoul in February last year.

Mr Lee said on Monday that though his ministers were always ready to talk with the North, they would not rush into dialogue.

"We are ready to work with North Korea. North Korea, too, must realise the South is the only country in the entire world that is sincerely concerned for its future and willing to help it," Mr Lee said.

His comments came ahead of a confirmation hearing for his new Unification Minister, Hyun In-Taek, who North Korea has denounced as an "anti-DPRK [North Korea] confrontational fanatic and sycophantic traitor serving the US".

North Korea said if Mr Hyun were confirmed in the job, inter-Korean relations would collapse into ruin.


Story from BBC NEWS:
BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | US warns North Korea over missile

Published: 2009/02/09 09:25:50 GMT

© BBC MMIX

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Another Headache for USA to worry about.

It is not any headache for the US. We have our anti-missile station in Alaska which will protect the US from rinky-dinky missiles from the Dear Leader. It is only a problem for Japan for now. But we will let Japan have an anti-missile system if they want to spend the yen.
 
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It is not any headache for the US. We have our anti-missile station in Alaska which will protect the US from rinky-dinky missiles from the Dear Leader. It is only a problem for Japan for now. But we will let Japan have an anti-missile system if they want to spend the yen.

Cool so NO need for USA to worry about then. Right ?
 
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Cool so NO need for USA to worry about then. Right ?

Well, there is no NEED for the US to worry. But, you know what busy-bodies we ARE!! So we will still have to stick our nose into it because we don't want our buddies the South Koreans and Japanese to have a COW!
 
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