Showing posts with label North Korea Rocket Launch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label North Korea Rocket Launch. Show all posts
Sunday, March 16, 2014
N. Korea fires 10 rockets into sea - official
SEOUL - North Korea Sunday test-fired ten rockets into the sea, South Korea's defense ministry said, the latest in a series of launches that have provoked criticism from Seoul and Washington.
The rockets were fired off the North's east coast and flew about 70 kilometers (42 miles) into the Sea of Japan (East Sea), a ministry spokesman said.
"Following the North's rocket launch at 6:20 pm (0920 GMT), our military has maintained a close watch for possible North Korean provocations," he said.
Yonhap news agency earlier reported that 10 short-range missiles were fired.
South Korean troops have increased vigilance following a series of rocket or missile launches in late February and this month.
The activity coincides with annual South Korean-US military exercises that started in February and will run until mid-April.
Pyongyang routinely condemns such war games as rehearsals for an invasion, while Seoul and Washington say they are purely defensive.
"We urge North Korea to stop provocative activities that will heighten military tension across the border," the spokesman said.
The North has defended its missile and rocket tests as justifiable self-defense drills.
South Korea has called the launches a "reckless provocation" while Washington urged Pyongyang to halt the tests immediately, saying they risked inflaming regional tensions.
Sunday's rocket launch came two days after the North's National Defense Commission threatened to demonstrate its nuclear deterrence.
Analysts said the comments could indicate the regime is preparing to carry out a fourth atomic test.
"Additional measures will be taken to demonstrate its might one after another as long as the US nuclear threat and blackmail persist as now", the commission said in a statement.
"The US had better roll back its worn-out hostile policy towards (North Korea) as soon as possible and shape a new realistic policy before it is too late."
North Korea and its main ally China want a resumption of six-party talks on the North's nuclear weapons program. But the United States and South Korea both insist that Pyongyang first demonstrate some tangible commitment to abandoning nuclear weapons.
The North carried out nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and in February last year.
Analysts in Seoul said it was now mulling three options -- a fourth nuclear test, the firing of a long-range rocket or the disclosure of progress in its program to enrich uranium.
Despite tensions over the drills and the North's missile tests, cross-border ties are currently enjoying an upswing.
The two Koreas recently held the first reunion for more than three years of families divided by the Korean War -- an event that raised hopes of greater cooperation.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Japan warns shipping about N. Korea rocket debrisJapan warns shipping about N. Korea rocket debris
TOKYO - Japan's coast guard on Tuesday began issuing warnings to ships in the area to be on the lookout for falling debris from North Korea's planned rocket launch.
"We are announcing by radio the expected time and places where falling objects could appear," coast guard spokesman Yoshiyuki Terakado said.
Coast guard officials will issue the warning every day in Japanese and English until the launch is confirmed, he said.
Poor but nuclear-armed North Korea attracted international condemnation after it announced a plan to launch a satellite sometime from April 12 to 16, to mark the centenary of the birth of late founding president Kim Il-Sung.
Pyongyang insists the launch is a peaceful space project but the United States and its allies view it as a disguised missile test in breach of UN resolutions.
Japan has deployed missile defense systems to intercept and destroy the rocket if it looks set to fall on the country, a move similar to measures the country took in 2009 before Pyongyang's last long-range rocket launch.
source: interaksyon.com
"We are announcing by radio the expected time and places where falling objects could appear," coast guard spokesman Yoshiyuki Terakado said.
Coast guard officials will issue the warning every day in Japanese and English until the launch is confirmed, he said.
Poor but nuclear-armed North Korea attracted international condemnation after it announced a plan to launch a satellite sometime from April 12 to 16, to mark the centenary of the birth of late founding president Kim Il-Sung.
Pyongyang insists the launch is a peaceful space project but the United States and its allies view it as a disguised missile test in breach of UN resolutions.
Japan has deployed missile defense systems to intercept and destroy the rocket if it looks set to fall on the country, a move similar to measures the country took in 2009 before Pyongyang's last long-range rocket launch.
source: interaksyon.com
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Debris from Nokor launch has Manila preparing contingency
MANILA, Philippines - No nuclear threat has thus far been verified in North Korea's rocket launch in April, but the Philippine government is still preparing contingency measures, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Thursday.
"Ang alam natin ay ito ay wala namang nuclear element na kasama dun sa launching nila, but ang kalaban natin dito yung debris. Pagka ito ay nag-explode sa taas, yung mga bakal-bakal na yan na babagsak, tinitingnan natin kung saan dadaan at kung sino ang tatamaan [As far as we know there is no nuclear element in their launch, but we’re watching the debris. An explosion in space spawns various metal fragments that will fall on earth, and we’ve to closely track where these will fall or what these will hit]," Gazmin told reporters.
Gazmin said the Philippine government is still gathering data to determine the exact path of the rocket to warn affected residents of the debris.
Initial information said the rocket launch will be held between April 12 and 16, sometime between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 180 kilometers northeast of Luzon.
Gazmin said he is constantly coordinating with the United States and the South Koreans to prepare for the incident.
"Titignan muna natin yung areas na madadaanan para mabigyan natin ng proper warning kung ano at pano magcocover [Let’s check the path first, and then give those possibly affected the right advice on how to shield themselves]," Gazmin said.
"Kung hindi successful baka sumobra, baka pumasok sa ating territory so yun ang pinangangambahan natin [If it’s not successful, they might exceed estimates and debris will enter our territory, and that’s what worries us," he added.
source: interaksyon.com
"Ang alam natin ay ito ay wala namang nuclear element na kasama dun sa launching nila, but ang kalaban natin dito yung debris. Pagka ito ay nag-explode sa taas, yung mga bakal-bakal na yan na babagsak, tinitingnan natin kung saan dadaan at kung sino ang tatamaan [As far as we know there is no nuclear element in their launch, but we’re watching the debris. An explosion in space spawns various metal fragments that will fall on earth, and we’ve to closely track where these will fall or what these will hit]," Gazmin told reporters.
Gazmin said the Philippine government is still gathering data to determine the exact path of the rocket to warn affected residents of the debris.
Initial information said the rocket launch will be held between April 12 and 16, sometime between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 180 kilometers northeast of Luzon.
Gazmin said he is constantly coordinating with the United States and the South Koreans to prepare for the incident.
"Titignan muna natin yung areas na madadaanan para mabigyan natin ng proper warning kung ano at pano magcocover [Let’s check the path first, and then give those possibly affected the right advice on how to shield themselves]," Gazmin said.
"Kung hindi successful baka sumobra, baka pumasok sa ating territory so yun ang pinangangambahan natin [If it’s not successful, they might exceed estimates and debris will enter our territory, and that’s what worries us," he added.
source: interaksyon.com
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