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North Korea Launches Two Midrange Missiles North Korea Launches Two Midrange Missiles
(5 months later)
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea demonstrated its ballistic missile capabilities by launching two midrange missiles on Wednesday, after the leaders of the United States, Japan and South Korea gathered in the Netherlands to discuss the North’s nuclear threats. SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea demonstrated its ballistic missile capabilities by launching two midrange missiles on Wednesday, after the leaders of the United States, Japan and South Korea gathered in the Netherlands to discuss the North’s nuclear threats.
In North Korea’s first tests of midrange projectiles in nearly five years, two Rodong missiles blasted off from mobile launching vehicles from Sukchon, north of Pyongyang, early Wednesday and flew 403 miles before landing in the sea between North Korea and Japan, said Kim Min-seok, a spokesman of the South Korean Defense Ministry.In North Korea’s first tests of midrange projectiles in nearly five years, two Rodong missiles blasted off from mobile launching vehicles from Sukchon, north of Pyongyang, early Wednesday and flew 403 miles before landing in the sea between North Korea and Japan, said Kim Min-seok, a spokesman of the South Korean Defense Ministry.
“By launching them from mobile vehicles which are difficult to monitor and allow North Korea to fire missiles from anywhere it wanted, the country appeared to show off its ability to attempt a surprise attack,” Mr. Kim said. “This is a serious provocation against South Korea and the international community.”“By launching them from mobile vehicles which are difficult to monitor and allow North Korea to fire missiles from anywhere it wanted, the country appeared to show off its ability to attempt a surprise attack,” Mr. Kim said. “This is a serious provocation against South Korea and the international community.”
Mr. Kim would not say how it was known that mobile vehicles had been involved, but North Korea has displayed an array of mobile launching pads known as transporter erector launchers in recent military parades.Mr. Kim would not say how it was known that mobile vehicles had been involved, but North Korea has displayed an array of mobile launching pads known as transporter erector launchers in recent military parades.
He condemned the tests as a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions that were adopted after the North’s nuclear and long-range rocket tests in recent years and that banned the country from developing any ballistic missile technology.He condemned the tests as a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions that were adopted after the North’s nuclear and long-range rocket tests in recent years and that banned the country from developing any ballistic missile technology.
Wednesday’s tests were North Korea’s first use of Rodongs since 2009. The Rodong, developed from the old Soviet-designed Scud missiles, remains among the most formidable of North Korea’s growing arsenal of ballistic weapons. It has a range of 807 miles, or enough to cover most of Japan.Wednesday’s tests were North Korea’s first use of Rodongs since 2009. The Rodong, developed from the old Soviet-designed Scud missiles, remains among the most formidable of North Korea’s growing arsenal of ballistic weapons. It has a range of 807 miles, or enough to cover most of Japan.
The tests on Wednesday were the most serious among a series of missile and rocket tests that the North has conducted since late February. The other tests all involved short-range projectiles.The tests on Wednesday were the most serious among a series of missile and rocket tests that the North has conducted since late February. The other tests all involved short-range projectiles.
The Rodong tests of July 2009 were preceded by the launching of a long-range rocket and a nuclear test earlier that year. When the North launched Rodong missiles in July 2006, it also test-fired a Taepodong long-range missile, followed by its first nuclear test in October that year.The Rodong tests of July 2009 were preceded by the launching of a long-range rocket and a nuclear test earlier that year. When the North launched Rodong missiles in July 2006, it also test-fired a Taepodong long-range missile, followed by its first nuclear test in October that year.
“We are monitoring the situation closely, because the Rodong tests in the past had been preceded or followed by additional provocations,” Mr. Kim said.“We are monitoring the situation closely, because the Rodong tests in the past had been preceded or followed by additional provocations,” Mr. Kim said.
A State Department spokeswoman, Marie Harf, said Tuesday night that the missile launches were “a troubling and provocative escalation that the United States takes very seriously.”A State Department spokeswoman, Marie Harf, said Tuesday night that the missile launches were “a troubling and provocative escalation that the United States takes very seriously.”
Since six-nation talks aimed at ending the North’s nuclear program collapsed in 2009, North Korea has threatened to strengthen its nuclear weapons and long-range missile development. It put a satellite into orbit in December 2012 with a rocket that Washington charged was part of an effort to build an intercontinental ballistic missile and develop an ability to use it to deliver a nuclear warhead at a target as far away as North America. North Korea conducted its third nuclear test in February 2013.Since six-nation talks aimed at ending the North’s nuclear program collapsed in 2009, North Korea has threatened to strengthen its nuclear weapons and long-range missile development. It put a satellite into orbit in December 2012 with a rocket that Washington charged was part of an effort to build an intercontinental ballistic missile and develop an ability to use it to deliver a nuclear warhead at a target as far away as North America. North Korea conducted its third nuclear test in February 2013.
Mr. Kim said officials in Seoul believed that the North Korean tests could have been timed to coincide with a meeting at The Hague on Tuesday of President Obama with President Park Geun-hye of South Korea and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan. The three leaders held closed-door discussions before Mr. Obama’s visit to both countries next month.Mr. Kim said officials in Seoul believed that the North Korean tests could have been timed to coincide with a meeting at The Hague on Tuesday of President Obama with President Park Geun-hye of South Korea and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan. The three leaders held closed-door discussions before Mr. Obama’s visit to both countries next month.
The meeting took place on the sideline of a nuclear security summit meeting in The Hague, where the leaders emerged from the discussion to declare themselves united in the face of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and other issues. That the three leaders offered positive comments was significant, given recent disputes between Japan and South Korea.The meeting took place on the sideline of a nuclear security summit meeting in The Hague, where the leaders emerged from the discussion to declare themselves united in the face of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and other issues. That the three leaders offered positive comments was significant, given recent disputes between Japan and South Korea.
The Rodong tests also took place on the fourth anniversary of the sinking of a South Korean warship, which Seoul and Washington said was a North Korean torpedo attack. North Korea denied responsibility in the sinking, which killed 46 sailors.The Rodong tests also took place on the fourth anniversary of the sinking of a South Korean warship, which Seoul and Washington said was a North Korean torpedo attack. North Korea denied responsibility in the sinking, which killed 46 sailors.
After the North’s nuclear test last year, relations between it and South Korea plunged to their lowest level in recent years, but the tensions had recently eased enough for the two Koreas to hold reunions in late February. Hundreds of elderly people separated by the Korean War were allowed to meet their long-lost relatives.After the North’s nuclear test last year, relations between it and South Korea plunged to their lowest level in recent years, but the tensions had recently eased enough for the two Koreas to hold reunions in late February. Hundreds of elderly people separated by the Korean War were allowed to meet their long-lost relatives.