Tokyo, Mar 24: The United States has detected signs that North Korea may be preparing to test-fire a long-range missile, the top US envoy to Japan told senior ruling party lawmakers today. Although US officials say there is no indication of an imminent launch, the information comes amid concerns North Korea may test-fire one of its ballistic missiles to coincide with Tokyo's scheduled launch Friday of two spy satellites. North Korea test-fired two short-range missiles in late February and early March amid tensions over its suspected nuclear weapons programs. Washington and South Korea called those tests attempts to force the United States into direct talks. US ambassador Howard Baker told Taku Yamasaki, the secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, Washington, will notify Tokyo if there are clear signs Pyongyang is about to test a missile, a secretary from Yamasaki's office said on condition of anonymity. Baker met with Yamasaki and leaders from the LDP's two ruling coalition partners earlier today.
The isolated Communist country last tested a ballistic missile in 1998, when it launched a Taepodong over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean. The launch proved that virtually all of Japan is within range of the North's missiles.
Pyongyang has had a moratorium on long-range missile tests since 1999 and last year promised Japan it would extend the ban beyond 2003. Bureau Report