Posted on 03/08/2006 7:59:56 AM PST by Esther Ruth
Report: N. Korea Test-Fires Two Missiles
Wednesday March 08, 2006 9:28am
TOKYO (AP) - North Korea fired two surface-to-air missiles near its border with China and they apparently landed in North Korean territory, a Japanese news agency reported, citing security sources. Kyodo News agency cited an "Asian security source" as saying the missiles were fired by mistake in the direction of China during a military drill, and the missiles appeared to have landed in North Korean territory.
But the agency also cited a "Western military source" as saying the short-range missiles were test-fired in an eastern direction from the North's eastern coast, toward the Sea of Japan.
The agency said it couldn't immediately reconcile the conflicting reports. The exact time of their launch was unknown, Kyodo said.
excerpts
Japan's Defense Ministry refused to comment, saying it could not disclose information on specific activities. But a spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity because of ministry regulations, said Japan "constantly monitored the military activities of neighboring countries."
Kyodo quoted an unnamed defense official as saying the government would not inform the public of the possible misfires because they did not threaten Japan's security.
Yang Chang-seok, spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, which deals with North Korean affairs, said the ministry could not confirm the report. Calls to China's Defense Ministry in Beijing went unanswered Wednesday night.
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Japan and the United States have started to develop a joint ballistic missile defense system, and Tokyo has said it will launch two spy satellites by March 2007 to monitor North Korea and other trouble spots.
Looks like the missiles went the "Wong Wei"
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