Laura Cereta
07-02-2009, 11:20 AM
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North Korea test-fired four short-range missiles within four hours on Thursday, Pentagon officials confirmed to FOX News.
While the surface-to-ship missiles, with a range of less than 62 miles, are not capable of reaching Japan, the test-fires are a move that aggravates the already high tensions following Pyongyang's recent nuclear test and U.N. sanctions imposed as punishment.
The missiles were fired from the eastern coastal city of Wonsan on
Thursday afternoon and evening, a ministry official said on condition of anonymity citing department policy.
"One was fired at 5:20 p.m. and the other at 6:00 p.m. from Sinsang-ni" near the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, South Korean defense ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae said. The third was reportedly fired around 7:50 p.m. and the fourth shortly after that.
North Korea had earlier issued a no-sail zone in waters off its east coast through July 10 for military drills. That designation has been viewed as a prelude to such missile tests.
"We had expected that they will fire short-range missiles at any time," South Korea's Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan told The Associated Press at a reception held at the US ambassador's residence to mark the US Independence Day, which falls this weekend. "It's not a good sign because they are demonstrating their military power."
The United States is seeking Chinese support to enforce the U.N. sanctions. Philip Goldberg, who is in charge of coordinating the implementation of sanctions against the North, was to meet with Chinese officials in Beijing on Thursday, the U.S. Embassy said.
Earlier in the day, Seoul's JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported that the North could fire a barrage of missiles in coming days, including ballistic Scud or Rodong rockets that the North is banned from testing under U.N. resolutions.
The new launches are expected to exacerbate the tensions running high since Pyongyang's May 25 underground nuclear test and a series of missile firings. The U.N. Security Council adopted a tough sanctions resolution last month to punish the communist regime.
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http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529814,00.html
North Korea test-fired four short-range missiles within four hours on Thursday, Pentagon officials confirmed to FOX News.
While the surface-to-ship missiles, with a range of less than 62 miles, are not capable of reaching Japan, the test-fires are a move that aggravates the already high tensions following Pyongyang's recent nuclear test and U.N. sanctions imposed as punishment.
The missiles were fired from the eastern coastal city of Wonsan on
Thursday afternoon and evening, a ministry official said on condition of anonymity citing department policy.
"One was fired at 5:20 p.m. and the other at 6:00 p.m. from Sinsang-ni" near the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, South Korean defense ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae said. The third was reportedly fired around 7:50 p.m. and the fourth shortly after that.
North Korea had earlier issued a no-sail zone in waters off its east coast through July 10 for military drills. That designation has been viewed as a prelude to such missile tests.
"We had expected that they will fire short-range missiles at any time," South Korea's Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan told The Associated Press at a reception held at the US ambassador's residence to mark the US Independence Day, which falls this weekend. "It's not a good sign because they are demonstrating their military power."
The United States is seeking Chinese support to enforce the U.N. sanctions. Philip Goldberg, who is in charge of coordinating the implementation of sanctions against the North, was to meet with Chinese officials in Beijing on Thursday, the U.S. Embassy said.
Earlier in the day, Seoul's JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported that the North could fire a barrage of missiles in coming days, including ballistic Scud or Rodong rockets that the North is banned from testing under U.N. resolutions.
The new launches are expected to exacerbate the tensions running high since Pyongyang's May 25 underground nuclear test and a series of missile firings. The U.N. Security Council adopted a tough sanctions resolution last month to punish the communist regime.
More @ http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu212/2059911/fnlogo.jpg (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529814,00.html)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529814,00.html