U.S. not to intercept N. Korean rocket: Gates

WASHINGTON, March 29 (Yonhap) -- The United States will not shoot down the rocket set to be fired by North Korea in early April unless it is approaching the United States, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said Sunday.

"I think if we had an aberrant missile, one that was headed for Hawaii, that
looked like it was headed for Hawaii or something like that, we might consider
it," Gates told "FOX News Sunday." "But I don't think we have any plans to do
anything like that at this point."
On the question of what the U.S. will do about North Korea's rocket launch, Gates
said, "I would say we're not prepared to do anything about it."
The remarks are a reversal of those he made last month when he hinted that the
U.S. might intercept a Taepodong-2 ballistic missile should one approach American
territory. "My colleagues, the secretary of state, national security adviser,
president and vice president, understand what our capabilities are."
Senior U.S. military officers have also told Congressional hearings that they
were prepared to shoot down any North Korean rocket if such a decision is made,
noting the U.S. missile defense system successfully intercepted ballistic
missiles in training missions in recent months.
Gates said he did not believe North Korea has acquired the technology to develop
a nuclear warhead small enough to be mounted on a ballistic missile, but added
the North's rocket launch aims to show off its ballistic missile capability
despite Pyongyang's claim that it is sending a satellite into space between April
4-8.
"I don't know anyone at a senior level in the American government who does not
believe this technology is intended as a mask for the development of an
intercontinental ballistic missile," he said.
Despite warnings by the U.S. of a possible interception, experts have said such a
move is unlikely due to technical shortfalls in its missile defense system and
other political implications.
U.S. officials and experts see the North's planned rocket launch as an attempt to
show off its missile capability and revive missile talks suspended under the Bill
Clinton administration a decade ago.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has suggested initiating missile talks
with North Korea. Some experts have proposed that Washington pay up to US$1
billion annually in compensation if the North halts its long-range missile
exports, deployment and development.
North Korea, known to be a major provider of missiles and missile parts to Syria,
Iran and other Middle Eastern countries, made the demand for cash compensation a
decade earlier.
The U.S. position not to shoot down the North Korean rocket comes amid reports
that China and Russia have been lukewarm on efforts by the U.S. and its allies to
further sanction North Korea over its imminent rocket launch.
China, the North's staunchest ally, has been urging all parties concerned to show
restraint, inviting speculation that Beijing will not approve any U.N. resolution
against the North, which has defended its right to launch a satellite as part of
a peaceful space program.
China greatly toned down a U.N. resolution adopted in 2006 soon after North
Korea's ballistic missile launch.
North Korea has warned that any interception will trigger a war, threatening to
attack U.S. interceptors and scrap six-party talks deadlocked over how to verify
North Korea's nuclear facilities.
It also pledged to take "strong measures" in the face of any U.N. action against
the rocket launch, hinting at a possible second nuclear test, following one
conducted in 2006.
Denis McDonough, White House deputy national security adviser, said Saturday that
U.S. President Barack Obama will address the issue when he meets with Chinese
President Hu Jintao in London next week on the sidelines of the G20 economic
summit.
"We'll obviously want to take an opportunity to discuss our shared concerns about
preparations in North Korea for a launch that we, as you know, would consider to
be counter to U.N. Security Council resolution 1718," McDonough said.
Chief nuclear envoys from South Korea, the U.S. and Japan met in Washington
Friday to discuss bringing North Korea's rocket launch to the U.N. Security
Council, saying any rocket launch -- whether for a satellite or a missile --
would be in violation of the U.N. resolution.
In apparent recognition of China's opposition, however, Wi Sung-lac, South
Korea's chief nuclear envoy, said Friday he "would not prejudge what the U.N.
Security Council will do."
Gates said he did not think Japan will try to shoot down the North Korean rocket
scheduled to be fired within a week or so.
The defense secretary also expressed displeasure with the languishing six-party
talks that have been on and off for the past six years. "It's very troubling.
Frankly, from my perspective, the opportunity for success is probably more in
economic sanctions in both places than it is in diplomacy."
Gates urged North Korea not to make provocative actions but to return to the
six-party talks.
"If this is Kim Jong-Il's welcoming present to a new president, launching a
missile like this and threatening to have a nuclear test, I think it says a lot
about the imperviousness of this regime in North Korea to any kind of diplomatic
overtures," he said.
hdh@yna.co.kr
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