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N Korea 'removes' missiles from east coast launch site | N Korea 'removes' missiles from east coast launch site |
(35 minutes later) | |
North Korea has removed two medium-range missiles from a launch site on the east coast, indicating a lowering of tension on the peninsula, a US official said. | North Korea has removed two medium-range missiles from a launch site on the east coast, indicating a lowering of tension on the peninsula, a US official said. |
Pyongyang reportedly made preparations for a missile launch last month. | Pyongyang reportedly made preparations for a missile launch last month. |
It had threatened attacks on specific targets on South Korea, Japan and US bases in the region. | It had threatened attacks on specific targets on South Korea, Japan and US bases in the region. |
The threats followed tough new UN sanctions imposed on North Korea in March after its third nuclear test. | The threats followed tough new UN sanctions imposed on North Korea in March after its third nuclear test. |
Pyongyang has also been angered by wide-ranging annual US-South Korea military drills, which were completed a week ago. | Pyongyang has also been angered by wide-ranging annual US-South Korea military drills, which were completed a week ago. |
The US flew nuclear-capable B2 and B52 bombers over the South as part of the drill, and deployed warships with missile defence systems to the region. | |
A new series of joint anti-submarine drills began on Sunday and will last until Friday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reports. | A new series of joint anti-submarine drills began on Sunday and will last until Friday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reports. |
'Provocation pause' | 'Provocation pause' |
The Musudan missiles had been ready to launch at any moment but North Korea had now "moved them", a unnamed US defence official told AFP news agency. | The Musudan missiles had been ready to launch at any moment but North Korea had now "moved them", a unnamed US defence official told AFP news agency. |
The move is the most tangible sign yet that North Korea has stepped back from its threats to launch missiles, the BBC's Jane Little in Washington reports. | |
But a senior US official from the National Security Council warned that, given the North's unpredictable behaviour, it was "premature to celebrate it as good news", | |
Meanwhile Pentagon spokesman George Little, who declined to comment directly on the missiles' reported removal, told reporters "what we have seen recently is a provocation pause". | Meanwhile Pentagon spokesman George Little, who declined to comment directly on the missiles' reported removal, told reporters "what we have seen recently is a provocation pause". |
"And we think that's obviously beneficial to efforts to ensure we have peace and stability on the Korean peninsula." | "And we think that's obviously beneficial to efforts to ensure we have peace and stability on the Korean peninsula." |
North Korea unveiled medium-range Musudan missiles during a military parade in 2010 but had not yet tested them. | North Korea unveiled medium-range Musudan missiles during a military parade in 2010 but had not yet tested them. |
Last month, South Korea raised its alert level to "vital threat" amid indications that Pyongyang was preparing for a missile launch. | |
At least one ballistic missile with an estimated 3,000km (2,000-mile) range had been fuelled and ready for launch, according to US and South Korean sources. | At least one ballistic missile with an estimated 3,000km (2,000-mile) range had been fuelled and ready for launch, according to US and South Korean sources. |
A test launch would be a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1718, passed in 2006, which states the North "must not conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile". | A test launch would be a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1718, passed in 2006, which states the North "must not conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile". |
Since the new UN sanctions were imposed, Pyongyang has threatened to use nuclear weapons and said it would restart a nuclear reactor. | |
In addition, it withdrew some 53,000 workers in April from the Kaesong factory zone on the border with South Korea. | |
The industrial complex, which was launched in 2003, employed people from both countries and was seen as one of the last remaining symbols of inter-Korean co-operation. | |
The final South Korean workers left the factory last Friday. | |
The North also shut down an emergency military hotline between Seoul and Pyongyang. |