SEOUL, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's
Republic of Korea fired one additional short-range missile on Saturday, raising
the total number of missiles fired in the day to seven, local media reported.
This file photo shows a model
of a SCUD-B missile produced in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea,
displayed at the War Memorial Hall in Seoul. According to South Korean
Joint Forces, the DPRK fired seven missiles off the east coast from a base
near Wonsan on Saturday. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
According to South Korean Joint Forces, the DPRK
fired an additional missile off the east coast from a base near Wonsan, Gangwon
Province at around 05:40 p.m. (0840 GMT), in addition to six short-range
missiles fired at the same place earlier in the morning.
The DPRK started with two scud-type missiles between
08:00 - 08:30 a.m. (2300-2330 GMT Friday), after which shot four more at around
10:45 a.m. (0145 GMT), noon (0300 GMT), 02:50 p.m. (0550 GMT), and 04:10 p.m.
(0710 GMT).
All the seven missiles are estimated to have a range
of 400-500km, the official said.
The missile firing came two days after the DPRK
test-fired four short-ranges off its eastern coast, which South Korean officials
described as part of routine military drills.
"Although the missiles fired on Thursday appear to be
part of routine military drills, the recent scud missiles seem to have political
purposes as they were fired a day before the U.S. Independence Day," the
official said.
The DPRK, since May, has been spotted with actions in
preparation for firing a new mid-range missile, as well as scud missiles, Yonhap
said.
The military authorities, however, said no sign has
been observed from either its eastern Musudan-ri base or a new Tongchang-ri base
on its west to conclude that an intercontinental ballistic missile launch is
imminent.
In April, the DPRK threatened to test-fire an
intercontinental ballistic missile in protest of the UN Security Council's
presidential statement which "condemned" the DPRK's earlier long-range rocket
launch.
WASHINGTON, July 4
(Xinhua) -- The United States on Saturday reiterated its call for the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) not to "aggravate tensions" hours after the
latter fired another seven missiles off its eastern coast.
"North Korea (DPRK) should refrain from actions that
aggravate tensions and focus on denuclearization talks and the implementation of
its commitments from the September 19, 2005 joint statement," State Department
spokesman Karl Duckworth said. Full story
TOKYO, July 4
(Xinhua) -- Japan condemned Pyongyang's latest missile launch, calling it a
serious act of provocation, the top government spokesman said Saturday.
"It is a serious act of provocation against the security
of neighboring countries, including Japan, and is against the resolution of the
U.N. Security Council," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said in
a statement. Full story
SEOUL, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Humanitarian aid from South
Korea was permitted to be sent to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(DPRK) on Thursday, said a South Korean government official on Friday. Full story
U.S. State Department spokesman Ian
Kelly speaks during a news conference at the State Department in
Washington D.C., capital of the United States, July 2, 2009. The United
States said on Thursday that the missile test-fires by the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are "not helpful" and are "dangerous."
(Xinhua/Zhang Yan) Photo
Gallery>>>
WASHINGTON, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The United States said on
Thursday that the missile test-fires by the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (DPRK) are "not helpful" and are "dangerous."
"North Korea knows exactly what it has to do ... They need
to cut out these kinds of provocative actions and return to denuclearization
talks," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told a routine news briefing. Full story
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks
during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White
House in Washington June 23, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
WASHINGTON, July 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday that
his administration is trying to "keep a door open" for the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s return to the six-party talks which was designed to
make the settlement of nuclear issues on the Korean peninsula.
In his exclusive interview with The Associated Press,
Obama insisted that the DPRK give up its nuclear weapon programs. Full story
SEOUL, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic
of Korea (DPRK) fired four short-range missiles off its east coast on Thursday,
South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.
DPRK fired the first missile at 05:20 p.m. (0820 GMT)
and the other three at 06:00 p.m., 07:50 p.m. and 09:20 p.m. respectively from
Sinsang-ni between the eastern coastal city of Hamhung and Wonsan, the report
quoted a South Korean official as saying. Full story
TOKYO, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister
Taro Aso said on Thursday the latest test-firings of missiles by the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as a "provocative act."
"We have often warned that such a provocative act is
not beneficial for North Korea's national interest," Aso was quoted by Kyodo
News as saying, adding it is difficult to understand what kind of message
Pyongyang wants to send with its latest missile launches. Full story
WASHINGTON, June 30 (Xinhua) -- The United States on
Tuesday imposed sanctions against two companies that were allegedly involved in
nuclear weapon and missiles-making activities by the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The United States will freeze any assets held by
Namchongang Trading Corp. of the DPRK, and bar it from any dealings with
American companies or individuals, the State Department said in a statement. Full story
PYONGYANG, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The nuclear weapons of
the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were "neither threatening other
countries, nor be used for preemptive attacks," said a commentary carried by the
Rodong Sinmun daily on Sunday.
The DPRK's nuclear deterrent is, to all intents and
purposes, of self-defensive nature and has an aim and mission to champion peace,
the commentary said. Full story
