Posted on 03/13/2003 5:30:42 PM PST by DeaconBenjamin
TOKYO - Japan has dispatched a high-tech surveillance ship to the Sea of Japan near North Korea.
The Japanese move comes amid media reports that unusual activity is taking place around North Korean missile bases.
The Japanese would be especially nervous since the latest reports suggested that Pyongyang could be preparing to test-fire a missile that can reach almost any part of Japan.
Many would still remember 1998, when the North launched a ballistic missile that flew over Japan.
But a government spokesman denied the latest reports.
'There are all kinds of movements around North Korea's missile bases... But we do not see such signs as were reported in the media,' said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda.
'At present, we do not have information that will allow us to say that North Korea is preparing to fire missiles,' the official said.
Although he stressed that a missile launch was not imminent, he confirmed that the government was 'meticulously' collecting information about North Korea's missile deployment.
Although the Japanese government took pains to appear unflustered by the latest reports of activity around North Korean bases, the news that Pyongyang could be planning to launch a Rodong missile next - so soon after test-firing two short-range missiles recently - clearly unnerved the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
A senior Foreign Ministry official who briefed LDP executives yesterday was said to have cautioned against allowing the situation to escalate.
The diplomat stressed that it was important to make it clear to the North Koreans that firing a missile at this time would only invite economic sanctions from Japan and the United States.
Japan's largest daily Yomiuri Shimbun reported yesterday that US military authorities had informed the Japanese government on March 7 that North Korea might be preparing to launch one of its Rodong ballistic missiles.
The Rodong, developed by the North Koreans, boasts a range of 1,300 km which allows it to reach almost anywhere on the entire Japanese archipelago.
The Yomiuri, citing US and Japanese sources, said that data from US spy satellites and other sources had detected an increase in the presence of military vehicles around the North Korean bases.
But the paper said there were no signs that missiles were actually being prepared for launching.
Previous reports said it was not uncommon for the North Koreans to conduct missile-firing exercises in the winter months.
Meanwhile, the American nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, which was positioned in waters near Japan following the heightening of tensions between the US and North Korea, was reported to be engaged in joint exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force.
North Korea has insisted that its nuclear spat with the US is a purely bilateral issue which requires direct talks, and resents the involvement of third parties.
On Wednesday, the North Korean Labour Party's organ, the Rodong Shinmun, not only told Japan to stay out of the dispute, but surprisingly also urged the Japanese to persuade Washington to agree to a dialogue with Pyongyang.
Well, that would depend on what your definition of NUCLEAR ICBM is?
Do you mean another missle test, or do you mean another missle test with a small nuclear device going off at the end?
N. Korea loves to take her enemy off guard. Multiple launches could do that.
And if they don't tell anyone before hand it can be regarded as a suprise missile attack.
I wouldn't be suprised to see a series of Japanese rising suns (nuclear fireballs) over NK shortly thereafter.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.