North Korea defies US with new missile launches
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Independent Minds
North Korea test-fired seven missiles today, South Korea's defence ministry said, in an act of defiance towards the United States that further stoked regional tensions already high due to its nuclear test in May.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the missile were Scuds, which would mark an escalation by the reclusive North, which has fired several non-ballistic, short-range missile since the May 25 nuclear test. North Korea is barred by United Nations resolutions from firing ballistic missiles such as the Scud.
"North Korea fired two missiles, which appeared to be a Scud type," Yonhap quoted an anonymous South Korean official as saying early on Saturday. "The missiles are estimated to have the range of about 500 km (310 miles)."
Five similar missiles were fired at intervals over the next few hours, Yonhap quoted a government source as saying.
South Korean Defence Ministry sources confirmed the North fired seven missiles off its east coast that travelled for about 400 km, which would indicate it fired ballistic missiles. The sources would not confirm the type of missiles.
Japan's Kyodo news agency reported the North may have fired at least one Rodong, a mid-range missile that can fly about 1,000 km to 1,400 km and hit all of South Korea and most of Japan.
It has taken authorities several hours to sort out the exact type of missiles launched by the North when it previously fired off salvos of ballistic missiles.
North Korea is thought to have more than 600 Scud-type missiles that include the Hwasong-5, with a range of about 300 km and the Hwasong-6, with a range of about 500 km.
Japan, a party to currently suspended six-nation talks aimed at coaxing the isolated North to give up its nuclear programme in return for aid and greater diplomatic recognition, was quick to condemn Pyongyang's latest action.
"Japan strongly protests and regrets today's missile launches by North Korea as they are a serious act of provocation against the security of neighbouring countries, including Japan, and is against the resolution of the UN Security Council," Japan's foreign ministry said in a statement.
North Korea fired a barrage of four short-range, non-ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on Thursday.
In 2006, North Korea test-fired its long range Taepodong-2 missile and other ballistic missiles while the United States celebrated its July 4 Independence Day national holiday.
The South Korean official quoted by Yonhap said the North's latest move appeared to be intended to send a message to the United States.
"The missiles fired on July 2 were analysed to be part of military drills, but today's missiles seem to have political purposes in that they were fired a day ahead of the US Independence Day," the agency quoted the official as saying.
UN sanctions put in place after the North's nuclear test in May were aimed at halting its trade in missiles systems, which are a vital source of foreign currency for the cash-short state.
The US envoy who coordinates sanctions against the North, was in China earlier this week to enlist Beijing's help in getting tougher with North Korea.
China is the North's biggest benefactor and trade partner whose help would be essential for an effective sanctions regime, analysts said.
Daniel Pinkston, with the International Crisis Group in Seoul, said the test helps the North's military in its ability to fire off missiles and could also be linked to the sanctions.
"The sanctions raised the cost of products such as missile systems. Buyers, who are taking increased risks, want to be assured about the quality and reliability of the product," said Pinkston.
North Korea fired a rocket it said put a satellite into space in April. US, South Korean and other officials said the launch was a disguised test of the long-range Taepodong-2 missile, which could hit US territory, and nothing was put into orbit.
The North has raised tension in recent months by saying it has started a programme to enrich uranium, which could give it a second path to a nuclear bomb, threatening to attack the South, and extracting plutonium at its ageing Yongbyon nuclear plant.
Analysts said the moves may be aimed at securing internal support for leader Kim Jong-il, 67 and thought to have suffered a stroke a year ago, as he prepares the ground for his youngest son to succeed him at the head of Asia's only communist dynasty.
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Comments
And what is this about July the 4th now? It is a day of note to the US only and maybe sad people here in Britain dreaming of long lost empires and no one else cares about Independence day, to be honest any American that celebrates Independence Day as things stand now is a moron, if they cared to examine the original declaration and compare what the British were charged with then and what the US government does now to its own people.
But freedom loving people, never fear for the US imperial system is close to the edge now, it was revealed this last week that US military bases alone costs some 102 Billion dollars and the lesser known 1000 plus "lily pads" are costing nearly twice as much, the American economy cannot sustain that level of expenditure for long and it may be that sometime during the Obama presidency we will see the US military empire implode and collapse on itself, forcing the closure of EU bases, closure of the Asian bases, cessation of the billions of military aid handed out, it may be that the offensive in Afghanistan is the last gasp attempt by a fading power, an offensive that has failed too as the Taleban saw the Marines and just went somewhere else.
I wasn't aware that the United States was somehow in charge of North Korea?
When was the last time the United States consulted anyone about missile tests or war games?
Or invasions, for that matter?
If we want a better world, we must try exercising clearer thought than this article represents.
This kind of stuff just unthinkingly repeats cliches, cliches originating from the American Establishment.
North Korea is a self-sovereign country, that has eschewd general contact with the rest of the world, good or bad. It doesn't defy anyone, let alone the U.S. of A. Since when was America put in charge of the world? It stands on the same precipice that the former Soviet Union stood just prior to its collapse, brought down by its own corrupt inertia.
The vision that governments and industries hold for the peoples of countries all around the world is not shared by the peoples. One world government might be a good idea in theory, but the pratical side of it being forced on us all demands resistance. The time is not right, not for many many decades will the people be ready...and when they are, it won't be governments and industries dictating how it will be.
Defies my foot...it just does as it pleases because it is a self-sovereign nation, very much like the USA!
Natural Selection and War for Profit is the only truth in the animal kingdom--quit your whingeing; moral idealism, it's LONG DEAD etc. It's never really even been much of a wraith!
Conspiracy Theorists kiss my butt.
I love how idiotic the patriotic fervor becomes in the US though, on this our High Holiday. As a previous poster pointed out, what the US Gov does now is identical if not worse than what our forefathers broke from, so what are we celebrating exactly?
Great bumper sticker: Freedom Isn't Free (though it was once)
i HAVE STRUGGLED BEYOND ANYTHING ONE SHOULD EXPECT TO BELIEVE THAT THIS NEWSPAPER WAS STILL INDEPENDENT
AS THEY USED TO BE
i NOW FEEL STUPID IN NOT ACKNOWLEDGING SOONER THAT IT HAS BECOME WORSE THAN THE SUN
AT LEAST THE SUN IS HONEST AND DOSN'T PRETEND TO BE INDEPENDENT SO WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE
Who actually gives a **** what America thinks??
America is IRRELEVANT. In two years time the US$ will crash, as countries around the world realise it's worthless waste paper.