- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

North Korea prepares for medium-range missile launch

North Korea prepares for medium-range missile launch
 North Korea prepares for medium-range missile launch - Sputnik International
Subscribe
North Korea's military appears to be making preparations for a medium-range missile launch from the country's east coast, the Yonhap news agency cited a South Korean lawmaker as saying.

MOSCOW, June 2 (RIA Novosti) - North Korea's military appears to be making preparations for a medium-range missile launch from the country's east coast, the Yonhap news agency cited a South Korean lawmaker as saying.

The unnamed lawmaker said after a briefing with defense officials that the missile was being prepared at the Anbyon base. He also confirmed an earlier report that an intercontinental ballistic missile was observed while being transported to North Korea's west coast.

Last week, the reclusive communist state sparked international condemnation with a nuclear test explosion, which was followed by a series of short-range missile launches into the Pacific.

Yonhap earlier quoted an anonymous intelligence official as saying a long-range missile is now at the new launch site in Dongchang-ri, in the North Pyongan Province, and could be launched later this month.

Other South Korean media reports said the rocket is a version of the Taepodong-2 missile fired on April 5, when the North claimed to be launching a satellite.

North Korea is banned from nuclear and ballistic tests under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718, passed in 2006 after the country's first nuclear test explosion.

The regime has reacted furiously to threats of UN sanctions over last week's nuclear test, warning of "self-defense measures."

The country has also voiced anger over regular overflights by South Korean and American surveillance drones.

Harsh sanctions against North Korea have been blocked in recent years by Russia and China, veto-wielding members on the Security Council, but both countries are believed to be considering sanctions over the recent nuclear test.

Russia's envoy to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, said the international community should give a "strong" response to the nuclear test, the Rossiiskaya Gazeta government daily reported on Tuesday.

The five permanent members of the Security Council plus South Korea and Japan are expected to draft a resolution on the issue this week.

 

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала