N Korea test-fires two more missiles

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FE Team | Published: May 26, 2009 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

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SEOUL, May 25 (Agencies): A South Korean news agency says North Korea has test-fired two more short-range missiles.
The Yonhap news agency says North Korea test-fired a total of three short-range missiles Monday after declaring that it successfully conducted a nuclear test.
Yonhap did not provide further details and did not name its source.
South Korea's military declined to confirm the reports, saying it does not comment on intelligence matters.
Earlier report say: North Korea carried out a powerful underground nuclear test Monday - much larger than one conducted in 2006 - in a major provocation in the escalating international standoff over its rogue nuclear and missile programmes.
Pyongyang announced the test, and Russia's Defence Ministry confirmed an atomic explosion at 9:54 am (0054 GMT) in northeastern North Korea, estimating the blast's yield at 10 to 20 kilotons - comparable to the bombs that flattened Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The regime also test-fired a short-range, ground-to-air missile Monday from the same northeastern site where it launched a rocket last month, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing unnamed sources. That liftoff, widely believed to be a cover for a test of its long-range missile technology, drew censure from the UN Security Council.
North Korea, incensed by the condemnation of the April 5 rocket launch, had warned last month that it would restart it rogue nuclear programme, conduct an atomic test and carry out long-range missile tests.
On Monday, the country's official Korean Central News Agency said the regime "successfully conducted one more underground nuclear test on May 25 as part of measures to bolster its nuclear deterrent for self-defence."
US President Barack Obama said a nuclear test would constitute an act of "blatant defiance" of the UN Security Council and a violation of international law, and would only further isolate North Korea.
North Korea's claims "are a matter of grave concern to all nations," he said, calling for international action in a statement from Washington. "North Korea's attempts to develop nuclear weapons, as well as its ballistic missile programme, constitute a threat to international peace and security."
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said the UN Security Council will meet at 4:30 pm Monday in New York (2030 GMT).
South Korea, meanwhile, was grappling with the suicide two days earlier of Lee's liberal predecessor, Roh Moo-hyun, whose death prompted condolences from North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. Kim held a 2007 summit in Pyongyang with Roh, who championed reconciliation with North Korea.
Monday's atomic test was conducted about 80 kilometres northwest of the northern city of Kilju, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky said, speaking on state-run Rossiya television.
Kilju, in the northeastern province of North Hamgyong, is where North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in October 2006 in a surprise move that angered even traditional ally China and drew wide-ranging sanctions from the Security Council.
An emergency siren sounded in the Chinese border city of Yanji, 200 kilometres to the northwest. A receptionist at Yanji's International Hotel said she and several hotel guests felt the ground tremble.
North Korea boasted that Monday's test was conducted "on a new higher level in terms of its explosive power and technology of its control" than in 2006.
Ten to 20 kilotons would be many times more than North Korea managed in 2006. US intelligence officials said the 2006 test measured less than a kiloton; one kiloton is equal to the force produced by 1,000 tons of TNT.
AFP from Washington says: US President Barack Obama led condemnation of North Korea's nuclear test, calling for a global response to what he said was a "threat to international peace".
Russia, current chair of the UN Security Council, convened an emergency meeting of the 15-member body later Monday to discuss the issue, while Japan and South Korea formed crisis management teams.
The European Union, Britain and France added their voices to the chorus of international concern after the communist North said Monday it had carried out its second nuclear test, more powerful that an atomic bomb test in 2006.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency said Pyongyang had also tested a short-range missile from its launch site at Musudan-ri near Kilju.
A Russian defence ministry spokesman confirmed the nuclear test, but the missile launch was not independently verified.
The United States, Japan, Russia and South Korea-along with China-have been involved in six-party talks with North Korea since 2003 which are aimed at putting an end to its nuclear programmes.
The forum reached a landmark deal in 2007, under which Pyongyang was to receive energy aid and security guarantees in exchange for disarming.
But the North withdrew from the negotiations last month after firing a long-range rocket in what it called a satellite launch. Many nations saw a disguised ballistic missile test and the Security Council condemned the launch and tightened sanctions.
In Tokyo, where key ministers were set to convene at 0800 GMT for a national security meeting, government spokesman Takeo Kawamura issued a sharp response, telling reporters: "Japan will take stern action against North Korea."