ID :
49654
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 17:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/49654
The shortlink copeid
N. Korea says intercepting satellite would lead to war
(ATTN: MODIFIES headline, lead, ADDS Seoul spokesman's quote on sealed border,
Kaesong complex, U.S. envoy's visit in paras 10-12, RESTRUCTURES)
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- North Korea warned on Monday it will retaliate if
anyone tries to shoot down a satellite it plans to launch, saying interfering
with the country's peaceful space activity would mean war.
The statement comes as South Korea and the United States begin their annual war
drill on Monday, in what could be an indication that North Korea may try to
launch the supposed satellite during the joint exercise that continues until
March 20.
"We will retaliate any act of intercepting our satellite for peaceful purposes
with prompt counter strikes by the most powerful military means," a spokesman for
the General Staff of the Korean People's Army said, specifically naming South
Korea, the U.S. and Japan.
"Shooting our satellite for peaceful purposes will precisely mean a war," the
spokesman said in a statement carried in English by the Korean Central News
Agency (KCNA).
U.S. and South Korean intelligence sources believe the launch may be a cover for
test-firing a long-range missile that is theoretically capable of striking Alaska
or Hawaii. U.S. and Japanese military officials have suggested they are
considering intercepting if North Korea does launch a missile.
The North also said it will cut off military communications with South Korea, the
last official inter-Korean channel that remains open, during the 12-day joint
drill. Pyongyang ordered its entire military to be fully combat ready, saying the
joint war exercise is aimed at launching a "second Korean War."
"As an immediate measure we will enforce a more strict military control and cut
off the north-south military communications," the military spokesman said.
"It is nonsensical to maintain normal communications channel at a time when the
South Korean puppets are getting frantic with the above-said war exercises,
leveling guns at fellow countrymen in league with foreign forces," the military
spokesman said.
A spokesman for the South Korean government said the suspension of military
communications will immediately lead to a closure of the border. South Koreans
planning business trips to a joint-industrial complex in the North Korean border
town of Kaesong will have to cancel their plans, said Unification Ministry
spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun. South Koreans cannot cross the border without approval by
North Korea given through the last-remaining inter-Korean channel.
"Our government will announce our position later in the morning," Kim said.
Seoul's foreign and unification ministers are set to meet with the new U.S. envoy
on North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, later in the day.
In rare general-level talks with U.S.-led United Nations forces here last week,
North Korea demanded the drill be canceled and said the military exercise is a
preparation for war. South Korea and the U.S. say it is purely defensive.
In this year's Key Resolve and Foal Eagle drill, South Korea and the U.S. will
mobilize 26,000 U.S. troops and an unspecified number of South Korean troops to
test their combat ability in case of an emergency on the peninsula. The U.S. will
also introduce a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS John C. Stennis
(CVN-74) of the U.S. Navy's 3rd Fleet, and a few Aegis destroyers for the
exercises.
"It is the invariable stand of our revolutionary armed forces fully ready for
all-out confrontation not to allow any enemies to intrude into our territory,
territorial waters and territorial air even 0.001 mm," the North's military
spokesman said.
Inter-Korean relations dipped to the lowest point in decades after conservative
President Lee Myung-bak took office about a year ago, adopting a tougher stance
on North Korea's nuclear program and withdrawing Seoul's unconditional aid to the
North.
In recent weeks, North Korea has warned it is taking an "all-out confrontational
posture" against South Korea, threatened military clashes along the western sea
border and said it cannot ensure the safety of South Korean civil flights in its
airspace.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
Kaesong complex, U.S. envoy's visit in paras 10-12, RESTRUCTURES)
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- North Korea warned on Monday it will retaliate if
anyone tries to shoot down a satellite it plans to launch, saying interfering
with the country's peaceful space activity would mean war.
The statement comes as South Korea and the United States begin their annual war
drill on Monday, in what could be an indication that North Korea may try to
launch the supposed satellite during the joint exercise that continues until
March 20.
"We will retaliate any act of intercepting our satellite for peaceful purposes
with prompt counter strikes by the most powerful military means," a spokesman for
the General Staff of the Korean People's Army said, specifically naming South
Korea, the U.S. and Japan.
"Shooting our satellite for peaceful purposes will precisely mean a war," the
spokesman said in a statement carried in English by the Korean Central News
Agency (KCNA).
U.S. and South Korean intelligence sources believe the launch may be a cover for
test-firing a long-range missile that is theoretically capable of striking Alaska
or Hawaii. U.S. and Japanese military officials have suggested they are
considering intercepting if North Korea does launch a missile.
The North also said it will cut off military communications with South Korea, the
last official inter-Korean channel that remains open, during the 12-day joint
drill. Pyongyang ordered its entire military to be fully combat ready, saying the
joint war exercise is aimed at launching a "second Korean War."
"As an immediate measure we will enforce a more strict military control and cut
off the north-south military communications," the military spokesman said.
"It is nonsensical to maintain normal communications channel at a time when the
South Korean puppets are getting frantic with the above-said war exercises,
leveling guns at fellow countrymen in league with foreign forces," the military
spokesman said.
A spokesman for the South Korean government said the suspension of military
communications will immediately lead to a closure of the border. South Koreans
planning business trips to a joint-industrial complex in the North Korean border
town of Kaesong will have to cancel their plans, said Unification Ministry
spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun. South Koreans cannot cross the border without approval by
North Korea given through the last-remaining inter-Korean channel.
"Our government will announce our position later in the morning," Kim said.
Seoul's foreign and unification ministers are set to meet with the new U.S. envoy
on North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, later in the day.
In rare general-level talks with U.S.-led United Nations forces here last week,
North Korea demanded the drill be canceled and said the military exercise is a
preparation for war. South Korea and the U.S. say it is purely defensive.
In this year's Key Resolve and Foal Eagle drill, South Korea and the U.S. will
mobilize 26,000 U.S. troops and an unspecified number of South Korean troops to
test their combat ability in case of an emergency on the peninsula. The U.S. will
also introduce a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS John C. Stennis
(CVN-74) of the U.S. Navy's 3rd Fleet, and a few Aegis destroyers for the
exercises.
"It is the invariable stand of our revolutionary armed forces fully ready for
all-out confrontation not to allow any enemies to intrude into our territory,
territorial waters and territorial air even 0.001 mm," the North's military
spokesman said.
Inter-Korean relations dipped to the lowest point in decades after conservative
President Lee Myung-bak took office about a year ago, adopting a tougher stance
on North Korea's nuclear program and withdrawing Seoul's unconditional aid to the
North.
In recent weeks, North Korea has warned it is taking an "all-out confrontational
posture" against South Korea, threatened military clashes along the western sea
border and said it cannot ensure the safety of South Korean civil flights in its
airspace.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
