Outcry over N Korea missile test

The Taepodong-2 may be able to reach Alaska
World powers have condemned North Korea for test-firing a series of missiles, including one thought capable of reaching the US.
The seven missiles included a long-range Taepodong-2, which the US said failed shortly after take-off.

The US called the tests "provocative", Japan announced a range of sanctions, and South Korea, Australia and Russia also expressed concern.

The UN Security Council is due to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis.

The closed session was requested by Japan, which plans to co-ordinate its response to the missile tests with the US and other countries.

Tokyo - one of North Korea's harshest critics, and in easy reach of a long-range missile - said it would ban the entry of North Korean officials, chartered flights and a ferry.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Pyongyang gained "nothing from such an act", but said continued dialogue was necessary to defuse the standoff.

In its first response to the tests, China urged all sides to remain calm.

Japanese and South Korean military are on high alert, and share prices have fallen in both countries.

Pyongyang remained defiant. A foreign ministry official said such launches were a matter of national sovereignty, Japanese media reported.

Correspondents say Pyongyang may see this action as a way to get attention and break the diplomatic log jam over stalled talks on its nuclear capabilities.

Analysts said the firing - Pyongyang's first test of a long-range missile since a self-imposed moratorium in 1999 - would seriously damage prospects for talks.

Heightened alert

North Korea launched six of the missiles as the US celebrated its Independence Day holiday and launched the space shuttle from Florida.

According to US officials, the six earlier launches took place over a four-hour period, beginning at 0332 Japan time (1832 GMT Tuesday).

Among them was the Taepodong missile - thought capable of reaching Alaska. US officials said it failed shortly after take-off, while the others fell into the Sea of Japan.

The seventh missile launch came hours later, at 1722 Japan time (0822 GMT) according to local media reports.

Nato said the move "posed a serious threat to the region and the international community at large".

Australia, South Korea and Russia also expressed concern.

NORTH KOREAN MISSILE MOVES
1998: Tests long-range Taepodong-1 over Japan
1999: Agrees to moratorium on long-range tests
2003: Six-nation talks begin on N Korea's nuclear programme
2005: Six-nation talks stall
July 2006: N Korea launches seven missiles, including long-range Taepodong-2, which fails


N Korea's missile programme


The US and North Korea's neighbours have been on heightened alert in recent weeks amid suspicions that Pyongyang was preparing to launch the Taepodong-2, which has a range of up to 6,000 km (3,730 miles).

The BBC's Charles Scanlon in Seoul says the North has been feeling under pressure and ignored in recent months, with the US refusing to negotiate on its demands over its nuclear plans.

Six-nation negotiations have been being repeatedly postponed as neither Washington nor Pyongyang are prepared to give ground.

The last time North Korea tested a long-range missile was in 1998, when it launched a Taepodong-1 over northern Japan.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5149512.stm

...and the rebellious teenager (N. KOREA) gets attention......

N Korea vows more missile tests

The Taepodong-2 test-flight failed shortly after take-off

North Korea has confirmed that it has test-fired a series of missiles and said it would continue launching them.

It also warned of "stronger physical actions" if the international community tried to put pressure on Pyongyang.

The North launched seven missiles, one of which was a failed test of a long-range Taepodong-2, believed to be capable of hitting Alaska.

The UN Security Council is due to reconvene later to discuss a draft resolution in response to the launches.


The document, co-sponsored by the US, UK and Japan, calls for sanctions against North Korea, but differences in approach are already emerging among key powers.

Japan is reportedly pushing for economic sanctions while China and Russia - sympathetic to the North - oppose any punitive measures.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin said the test launches were "disappointing", and stressed the need to resume diplomatic talks.

Speaking on a webcast for the BBC, and Russian website Yandex.com, Mr Putin said concern over the tests "should not drown out common sense".

He added that it was "practically impossible" for the North to build a missile capable of striking targets 6,000km (3,700 miles) away, with its current level of technology.

US envoy Christopher Hill is travelling to the region to discuss the next steps, and a senior Chinese negotiator is heading to Pyongyang next week aiming to kick-start negotiations.

In a statement reported by South Korean media, the North made its first public acknowledgement on Thursday that it had recently test-fired missiles.

It described the tests as successful - even though the long-range Taepodong-2 failed shortly after take-off. The missiles all landed in the Sea of Japan.

The launches were part of "regular military drills to strengthen self-defence," the North's foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

"Our military will continue with missile launch drills in the future," it added, insisting such action was "our legal right".

South Korean media reported on Thursday that there were three or four more missiles waiting on North Korean launch pads, although they were not thought to be long-range.

International divide

US President George W Bush has spearheaded calls for joint action against North Korea.


N Korea's missile programme

He has already spoken to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun in an effort to reach a consensus.

But there are obvious differences between the parties involved.

Tokyo - one of North Korea's harshest critics, and in easy reach of its missiles - has led regional condemnation of the launches and supports sanctions.

But South Korean officials have only agreed to co-operate in diplomacy, with Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok calling for "patient dialogue".

North Korea's closest allies China and Russia are also extremely unlikely to back sanctions.

The last time North Korea tested a long-range missile was in 1998, when it launched a Taepodong-1 over northern Japan.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5152918.stm

Does this explain it or no?
http://www.stevequayle.com/News.alert/06_P...KJI.cartoon.jpg

I am repeating myself from other KOREA folder

I am dumbfounded that nobody is talking about the leader of KOREA just back from about a week ago,,,,,,trip to RUSSIA!

I think we need to do a recap folder of exactly everything that's going on around us right now LOL

N. Korea threatens to fire more missiles

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060707/ap_on_...nkorea_missiles

For more on Iran, N. Korea, Russia and China...starting at post No. 210

http://www.christian-forum.net/index.php?s...pic=3742&st=205

Tig

This is the event that I saw, which I shared about on the mod forum, I was standing in a bay, I was watching the water wash up over my feet. The moon was to the back of me, I could see the reflection in the water as it washed up over my feet. I looked up and could make out the cliff rock structure at the opposite end of the bay about a half mile away. As I was standing there off in the distance past the rock structure I could see a bright light it started to assend and I realized it was a missle. At that moment I was translated out into the ocean and was watching a AGES battle ship come towards me and passed on my right side.

I have since learned that these ships are the front lines of detection from our missle defense system for the west coast. Like I said before tig, I believe the Lord is about to open a door that no man can shut. As I am writting this I can not stop thinking about Damascus.

Look at this guy. Come on...seriously, look at him.

95% of his country is starving and degrading themselves just for FOOD, and this clown sits around in Gucci shades and the worst bouffant hairstyle, like...ever. If that's not enough to call for a mass 'liberation' of North Korea, I don't know what is.

Also, his much touted two million soldier army would flip in a second for a Big Mac, fries, Pepsi, and a Starbucks doubleshot Espresso. I say we drop food, then, tell them it was all invented in the evil empire they know as America. Oh, and 99% of us can eat and drink them when we wish, without permission. That's just 'how we roll'.

Kim Jong Il is a Freudian masterpiece of Mommy complexes and megalomaniacal stupidity. Why not, instead of a huge, all out nuclear war, he challenges Condi to a fist fight, and the conscious one wins.

I got 15:1, against Kimmy Rogaine Boy.

Yes, I remember that dream. It never amazes me more, than when the LORD gives us peices to the giant puzzle.

The latest on North Korea....................Jul 7, 2006 — SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea considers sanctions against it as a declaration of war, its deputy ambassador to the United Nations was quoted as saying by South Korea's Yonhap news agency late on Friday.

Han Song-ryol's comments repeat Pyongyang's previous position but come as the U.N. Security Council discusses possible sanctions after the North fired seven missiles on Wednesday, including a long-range Taepodong-2, which failed.

"There is no change to our position that sanctions against the North will be considered an act of war," Han said was quoted as saying. "If sanctions are invoked, we will take strong and full counter measures," he said without elaborating.

North Korea will be able to return to stalled six-country talks on ending its nuclear programs if the United States lifts a freeze of its assets at a Macau bank, Han was quoted as saying by Yonhap.

U.S. authorities have frozen about $20 million in North Korea's funds at Banco Delta Asia in Macau on suspicion the money was linked to Pyongyang's cross-border illicit financial activities, such as counterfeiting.

North Korea has refused to continue the six-way talks, which also involve South Korea, the United States, Japan, Russia and China since November, saying the U.S. financial crackdown proved Washington's hostility against it and made the talks pointless.


Copyright 2006 Reuters
.......................................................benny