ID :
52332
Thu, 03/26/2009 - 04:54
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/52332
The shortlink copeid
N. Korea puts rocket on launch pad for possible launch within days: reportvBy Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, March 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has put a rocket on a launch pad along the East Sea apparently toward an imminent countdown, reports said Wednesday.
"North Korea has positioned a Taepodong II missile on the launch pad at its
facility in Musudan in the east of the country," NBC News reported, citing
unnamed U.S. officials. "According to the U.S. officials, while two stages of the
missile can be seen, the top is covered with a shroud supported by a crane."
North Korea has said it will launch a rocket to orbit a communications satellite
April 4-8, insisting the launch is part of its space program, not a ballistic
missile test, banned by U.N. resolution.
The U.S. and its allies have warned the North against a launch for any purpose,
threatening to impose further sanctions.
China and Russia, who greatly toned down the 2006 resolution, have been urging
all concerned parties to show restraint.
The report comes one day after Gen. Walter Sharp, commander of U.S. forces in
Korea, told a House Armed Services Committee hearing that "North Korea's most
recent provocative actions are all an attempt to ensure the regime's survival and
improve its bargaining position at international negotiations to gain
concessions."
Diplomatic efforts are under way to press the North not to fire the rocket, which
the U.S. sees as a cover for a ballistic missile test.
Chief nuclear negotiators of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan are to get together
in Washington Friday to discuss the issue.
North Korea has threatened to retaliate and boycott the six-party talks if the
U.S. and its allies try to shoot down the booster.
The six-party talks were stalled in December as North Korea balked at a
verification protocol for its nuclear facilities.
Sharp also said that North Korea has been "fielding a new ballistic missile
capable of striking Alaska and continues to develop and mature systems with an
intercontinental range capability."
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that the U.S. would like to
initiate missile talks with North Korea.
State Department officials have said that Washington needs to discuss that matter
with other parties to the six-party talks before deciding on whether to
incorporate the missile talks into the nuclear talks.
Frank Jannuzi, professional staff member of the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations, has proposed that Washington pay up to US$1 billion in compensation
for the North's suspension of exports, deployment and development of long range
missiles, referring to North Korea's demand made a decade earlier. North Korea is
said to be a major provider of missiles and missile parts to Syria, Iran and
other Middle Eastern countries.
Jannuzi's proposal was dismissed by State Department officials as "a private
opinion."
North Korea launched its first Taepodong ballistic missile over Japan in 1998.
The debris fell into seas off Alaska.
"North Korea has positioned a Taepodong II missile on the launch pad at its
facility in Musudan in the east of the country," NBC News reported, citing
unnamed U.S. officials. "According to the U.S. officials, while two stages of the
missile can be seen, the top is covered with a shroud supported by a crane."
North Korea has said it will launch a rocket to orbit a communications satellite
April 4-8, insisting the launch is part of its space program, not a ballistic
missile test, banned by U.N. resolution.
The U.S. and its allies have warned the North against a launch for any purpose,
threatening to impose further sanctions.
China and Russia, who greatly toned down the 2006 resolution, have been urging
all concerned parties to show restraint.
The report comes one day after Gen. Walter Sharp, commander of U.S. forces in
Korea, told a House Armed Services Committee hearing that "North Korea's most
recent provocative actions are all an attempt to ensure the regime's survival and
improve its bargaining position at international negotiations to gain
concessions."
Diplomatic efforts are under way to press the North not to fire the rocket, which
the U.S. sees as a cover for a ballistic missile test.
Chief nuclear negotiators of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan are to get together
in Washington Friday to discuss the issue.
North Korea has threatened to retaliate and boycott the six-party talks if the
U.S. and its allies try to shoot down the booster.
The six-party talks were stalled in December as North Korea balked at a
verification protocol for its nuclear facilities.
Sharp also said that North Korea has been "fielding a new ballistic missile
capable of striking Alaska and continues to develop and mature systems with an
intercontinental range capability."
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that the U.S. would like to
initiate missile talks with North Korea.
State Department officials have said that Washington needs to discuss that matter
with other parties to the six-party talks before deciding on whether to
incorporate the missile talks into the nuclear talks.
Frank Jannuzi, professional staff member of the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations, has proposed that Washington pay up to US$1 billion in compensation
for the North's suspension of exports, deployment and development of long range
missiles, referring to North Korea's demand made a decade earlier. North Korea is
said to be a major provider of missiles and missile parts to Syria, Iran and
other Middle Eastern countries.
Jannuzi's proposal was dismissed by State Department officials as "a private
opinion."
North Korea launched its first Taepodong ballistic missile over Japan in 1998.
The debris fell into seas off Alaska.
