North Korean missile deployment not aimed at US: Seoul
An intermediate-range missile that North Korea has deployed to its east coast is not capable of striking the US mainland, South Korean Defence Minister Kim Kwan-jin said Thursday, according to Yonhap.
|Last Updated: Apr 05, 2013, 12:18 AM IST|Source: Bureau
Moscow: An intermediate-range missile that North Korea has deployed to its east coast is not capable of striking the US mainland, South Korean Defence Minister Kim Kwan-jin said Thursday, according to Yonhap.
Kim dismissed media reports that Pyongyang has moved a KN-08 missile into position to attack the US, saying it is unable to strike the US mainland.
"It could be intended for test firing or military drills," he was quoted by Yonhap as saying.
Kim said the North could try other forms of provocation, including border clashes and cyber attacks.
Pyongyang`s latest missile deployment has prompted the US to move its THAAD advanced missile defence system along with radar systems to a base on the Pacific Ocean island of Guam.
On Wednesday, the North Korean army said it had received approval to launch a "merciless" attack on the US, including possible nuclear strikes.
The statement follows a pledge by Pyongyang Tuesday to restart facilities at its Yongbyon nuclear complex, including a uranium enrichment plant and a reactor.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton Thursday deplored North Korea`s decision to restart its Yongbyon facilities.
"The continued breaking of its international obligations by (North Korea) that threaten stability in the region will inevitably lead to an ever more united response by the international community," Ashton warned.
North Korea "should refrain from fuelling further tensions and show commitment to the agreed goal of complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula".
In another sign of tension between the two nations, North Korea announced Wednesday it would prevent South Korean workers and managers from entering the Kaesong Industrial Complex, located on the North`s side of the border but housing scores of South Korean companies.
North Korea has demanded the withdrawal of South Korean workers from the complex by April 10, Yonhap said. More than 50,000 North Koreans work in the zone, producing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of goods each year.
Seoul said it "deeply regrets" the North`s decision to stop South Koreans from entering Kaesong while Defence Minister Kim Kwan-jin said military action could be taken if the safety of the South Koreans in the zone came under threat.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Thursday urged North Korea to lift the restrictions on South Korean workers there.
Tensions began to rise on the Korean peninsula after international sanctions were imposed on North Korea in response to a long-range rocket launch in December that the permanent members of the UN Security Council condemned as a ballistic missile test.
IANS
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.