HONG KONG, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired a total of seven ballistic missiles on Saturday,
raising international concerns over regional security.
According to South Korean Joint Forces, the seven
missiles, estimated to have a range of 400-500 km, were fired off the east coast
from a base near Wonsan, Gangwon Province.
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>>>
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," an unnamed
South Korean official was quoted by Yonhap as saying.
Shortly after the DPRK's missile launch on Saturday,
South Korea's foreign ministry expressed deep regrets over the DPRK continuing
to attempt actions that elevate tensions in northeast Asia.
The ministry called the launch a "provocative action"
which violates UN Security Council Resolutions 1695, 1718, and 1874, which
banned the DPRK from any activity related to ballistic missiles.
The UNSC resolutions were reached when the DPRK
conducted its nuclear tests, first in 2006 and the latest in May this year.
"The government will closely cooperate with other
related countries to deal with the latest missile firing," South Korea's foreign
ministry said in a statement and urged the DPRK to faithfully implement the
resolutions.
The Japanese government lodged a protest against the
DPRK through diplomatic channels in Beijing over its launching of multiple
ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Saturday, according to a report by
Kyodo News.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said
in a statement, "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."
Kyodo said Prime Minister Taro Aso is expected to
urge fellow leaders at Group of Eight Summit in Italy to continue coordination
in dealing with DPRK's nuclear and missile development issues.
When discussing the nuclear issue on the Korean
Peninsula in Moscow on Saturday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin agreed that the situation in
Northeast Asia had become a major concern as escalating tensions there could
trigger a new arms race, threatening regional security.
They said all parties concerned should remain calm
and refrain from taking any actions that might further aggravate the situation.
The two countries called for a return to six-party talks.
The United States also called for the DPRK not to
"aggravate tensions" hours after the latter fired another seven missiles on
Saturday.
"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.
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.
South Korea's military authorities, however, said no
sign has been observed from either DPRK's eastern Musudan-ri base or the new
western Tongchang-ri base, and then concluded that an intercontinental ballistic
missile launch was 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.
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.
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. Full story
PARIS, July 4 (Xinhua) -- France on Saturday accused the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) of conducting the latest missile test and warned the country to "refrain from any further provocation," said a French Foreign Ministry spokesman.
"France condemns the missile tests carried out by North Korea on Saturday July 4, which undermine regional security and stability and constitute a violation of (UN) Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874," the spokesman said. Full story
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
PARIS, July 4 (Xinhua) -- France on Saturday accused the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) of conducting the latest missile
test and warned the country to "refrain from any further provocation," said a
French Foreign Ministry spokesman. Full story
MOSCOW, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev said the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(DPRK) raised more concerns than the Iranian one, news agencies reported on
Saturday. 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
