http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/07/05/north-korea.html
North Korea is reportedly preparing to launch three or four more
missiles including another long-range Taepodong-2, despite
international condemnation for test-firing a flurry of missiles
into the Sea of Japan Tuesday and Wednesday.
The missiles are said to be either short-or medium-range, and are
on launch pads and ready for firing, major South Korean newspapers
reported Thursday.
NBC News reported that North Korea was also preparing to to launch
another long-range Taepodong-2 missile but the missile is not yet
on the launch pad.
North Korea has test-fired at least seven missiles in 24 hours,
sparking worldwide condemnation for breaking a moratorium in place
since 1999.
The long-range Taepodong-2, believed to be able to reach
continental North America, fell short of its target shortly after
being launched Tuesday. The latest launch came several hours after
a bout of sustained activity, during which five short-range models
crashed into the Sea of Japan.
Japan, which called for swift action from the United Nations
Security Council, circulated a resolution to the council's 15
members demanding member nations withhold funds, goods and
technology that could be used for North Korea's missile program.
The resolution was backed by the U.S. and Britain.
But China, North Korea's most important ally, and Russia said they
favour a weaker council statement without any threat of sanctions.
Both countries hold veto power in the council. The others are the
U.S., France and Britain.
China's UN ambassador, Wang Guangya, said he favoured a statement
rather than a resolution or sanctions, Reuters reported. Russia's
UN Ambassador Vitali Churkin also said he favours a diplomatic
solution.
No agreement was reached. Council members meet again on
Thursday.
U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, repeating Washington's position that
the issue is not solely between the U.S. and North Korea but is a
world concern, said there was little support for Pyongyang during
the council meeting.
"No member defended what North Korea had done," Bolton said.
Join six-party talks: Bush
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she doesn't know what
the motivation for the missile launches is, but said they've drawn
a strong reaction from the international community.
Rice, speaking Wednesday with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul, said Pyongyang would be wise to abandon brinkmanship and
return to six-party talks on its weapons program.
U.S. President George W. Bush, who in 2002 called North Korea, Iraq
and Iran an "axis of evil," said the missile firings further
isolate the country.
"North Korea can join the community of nations and improve its lot
by acting in concert with those of us who believe it shouldn't
possess nuclear weapons," said Bush.
The U.S. is sending its chief North Korea negotiator, Christopher
Hill, to the region later this week.
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay added Canada's voice to the
world condemnation on Wednesday, calling the launches a "major
threat" to stability in the region. Echoing Rice, MacKay chided
Pyongyang for its use of "brinkmanship" in dealing with the
international community.
"Canada believes that such tactics are counterproductive and
ultimately destined to fail," he said in a news release posted on
the Foreign Affairs Department's website.
Missiles failed
White House press secretary Tony Snow said the U.S. military
believes the long-range Taepodong-2's flight was not aborted, but
was a "launch failure."
The intercontinental missile dropped into the Sea of Japan 42
seconds after it was launched. Bush administration officials have
characterized it as a "failure."
Analysts with the military magazine Jane's Defence Weekly say the
missile launches, while brief, provide North Korea with some data
and experience that could be used in future launches.
Officials at North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) in
Colorado are studying the long-range missile's telemetry to
determine its path and the nations over which it could have
flown.
It's believed North Korea last test-fired missiles in 1998. The
Taepodong-1 crossed Japanese airspace before landing in the sea. It
announced a missile-launch moratorium a year later, a ban it said
last month no longer applied.
