SEOUL, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Democratic People's
Republic of Korea(DPRK) appears to be preparing for a long-range missile test,
South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported on Saturday, citing an informed
source.
The source, asking not to be identified, said an
intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was recently spotted on a cargo train
near Pyongyang, Yonhap said.
The missile has since been moved to an undisclosed
location, according to the source.
"It usually takes about two months to set up a launch
pad, but the process could be done in as little as two weeks, which means the
North could launch a long-range missile as early as in mid-June," the source
said.
The remarks came shortly after a defense source said
some activities were spotted at a DPRK's munitions factory used to build
long-range missiles.
Gates: U.S. not to accept DPRK as
nuclear weapon state
SINGAPORE, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The United States will not accept the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) as a nuclear weapon state, U.S. Defense
Secretary Robert Gates told the 2009 Asian security summit here on Saturday.
Gates said that the policy of the United States has not
changed. "Our goal is complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean
peninsula," he said.
U.S. won't rule out possibilities to re-list DPRK as state sponsor
of terrorism
WASHINGTON, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Responding to concerns on a
possible re-listing of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as a
state sponsor of terrorism, the Obama administration on Friday said its decision
would depend on Pyongyang's actions.
"In order to be designated as a state sponsor of
terrorism, the secretary of state must determine that the government of North
Korea has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism," said
State Department spokesman Ian Kelly in a statement. Full story
Yonhap: DPRK fires short-range missile
off east coast
SEOUL, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) launched a short-range missile from its east
coast, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency on Friday reported, citing an official
at the South Korean government.
DPRK seems to have launched a missile into the East Sea at
around 6:12 p.m., at Musudanri, Hwadae county, North Hamgyong province,
according to the official. Full story
DPRK vows "further defense measures" if sanctioned for nuclear
test
PYONGYANG, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's
Republic of Korea will take "further defense measures" if the U.N. Security
Council sanctions it for its recent nuclear test, the official KCNA news agency
said Friday.
The DPRK "has the right to test nuclear bombs and
missiles, which were proper defense measures for it and not in violation of any
international law," the KCNA said, citing an unnamed spokesman for the DPRK
Foreign Ministry. Full story
Diplomats: Talks on new UN resolution on DPRK
underway
UNITED NATIONS, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The five permanent
members of the UN Security Council (P5) plus Japan and South Korea have started
talks on the text of a draft resolution in response to the recent nuclear test
by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), diplomats said Thursday.
The draft resolution emerged behind closed doors five days
after the DPRK conducted the nuclear test, but diplomats declined to give any
further details on the draft resolution being discussed among representatives of
the seven countries, P5 plus two. Full story
Korea, U.S. combined forces raise
watch level on DPRK
SEOUL, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The South Korea- U.S. Combined
Command Forces raised the watch level against the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea (DPRK) by one notch on Thursday, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency
reported, citing an official.
According to South Korean defense spokesman Won Tae-jae,
the Combined Forces raised the Watchcon system, the process of changing the
reconnaissance posture for strategic and tactical warning of attack, at local
time 07:15 Thursday (2215 GMT) from Level 3 to Level 2. Full story
DPRK declares to tear up truce
agreement
PYONGYANG, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced Wednesday that it will no longer stand by the
ceasefire agreement ending the 1950-53 Korean War, in response to South Korea's
participation to the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI).
South Korea's full participation to the U.S.-led program,
aimed at stopping the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction "dragged the
Korean peninsula into the state of war," the DPRK said in a three-point
statement. Full story
