Posted on 07/04/2009 7:46:15 AM PDT by IbJensen
SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles off its eastern coast Saturday, South Korea said, a violation of U.N. resolutions and an apparent message of defiance to the United States on its Independence Day.
The launches, which came two days after North Korea fired what were believed to be four short-range cruise missiles, will likely further escalate tensions in the region as the U.S. tries to muster support for tough enforcement of the latest U.N. Security Council resolution imposed on the communist regime for its May nuclear test.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said three missiles were fired early Saturday, a fourth around noon and three more in the afternoon. The Defense Ministry said that the missiles were ballistic and are believed to have flown more than 250 miles (400 kilometers).
"Our military is fully ready to counter any North Korean threats and provocations based on strong South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the first three appeared to be Rodong missiles while the rest were an upgraded version of Scud-C missiles, citing intelligence authorities.
The Defense Ministry said it could not confirm the report, saying more analysis needs to be done.
Scud-C missiles have a range of up to 300 miles (500 kilometers), which could hit most of South Korea. The Rodong has a range of up to 800 miles (1,300 kilometers), putting most parts of Japan within striking distance. Yonhap said, however, that the range of the Rodong missiles launched Saturday had been reduced.
U.N. resolutions ban North Korea from firing Scuds, medium-range missiles or long-range missiles. Among the U.N. measures is Resolution 1874, passed after North Korea's May 25 nuclear test, that prohibits any launch using ballistic missile technology.
Thursday's missile launches, on the other hand, did not violate the resolution, according to South Korea's Foreign Ministry. Kim Tae-woo, vice president of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, said they were believed to be cruise missiles.
Ballistic missiles are guided during their ascent out of the atmosphere but fall freely when they descend. Cruise missiles fly low and straight to their target.
The North has a record of timing its missile tests for U.S. Independence Day, which fell on Saturday.
"The missiles were seen as part of military exercises, but North Korea also appeared to have sent a message to the U.S. through the missile launches," a senior official in South Korea's presidential office said, without elaborating.
The official told The Associated Press that North Korea could fire more missiles in coming days, but said there was little possibility it could fire an intercontinental ballistic missile, as it threatened in April.
He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media.
Yonhap said North Korea was pulling out personnel from its missile launch site and was allowing ships to sail again in waters off its east coast - an indication no more missiles would be launched in the near future. Yonhap cited an unidentified military official.
The Defense Ministry said it could not confirm the report.
The North had initially warned ships to stay away from its east coast through July 10 for military exercises.
But the South Korea-U.S. combined forces command will not change its heightened alert level until tensions are eased, the Defense Ministry said. The command increased surveillance in May, when the North threatened military strikes on South Korean and U.S. troops.
The N. Korea sinister dictator knows that our sinister president will do absolutely nothing of value.
Wonder what Obomba would do when a major USA city is threatened and attacked?
Probably nothing until the second major city is threatened and attacked.
Have a happy, but maudlin Independence Day 'celebration.'
Wow, playing with some serious fire PRNK is. /s
The axis of evil is playing us for the idiots.
As for NK, they have lulled us into believing that the missle launches are tests; one day they will have war heads.
State how "deeply concerned" he is...again?
Previously...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2281233/posts
“Uranium gives NKorea second way to make bombs”
AP via Breitbart ^ | June 28, 2009 | KWANG-TAE KIM
Posted on June 28, 2009 10:47:01 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
Note: The following news brief is a quote:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3741073,00.html
inister Ben-Eliezer ‘concerned over absence of US response to N. Korea’
Published: 07.04.09, 13:29 / Israel News
Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer on Saturday said he is “very concerned over the absence of an American response to North Korea’s provocation”.
North Korea has reportedly test-fired seven ballistic missiles of the “Skud type” since Saturday morning, which South Korean officials have said may be a message to the United States on Independence Day. (Roni Sofer)
A protest letter.. in italics this time..... Right after ice cream.
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2009/07/04/38/0301000000AEN20090704002600315F.HTML
Home National Politics/Diplomacy
Politics/Diplomacy
2009/07/04 19:09 KST
“(7th LD) N. Korea fires seven ballistic missiles in violation of U.N. resolutions”
SEOUL, July 4 (Yonhap) —
SNIPPET: “Citing satellite photos, U.S. military officials said the North has not mounted an ICBM on a launch pad or injected fuel yet, a process that takes at least a week.
A British diplomat in Pyongyang also said the North is unlikely to fire an ICBM anytime soon.
“We have seen no evidence as yet to state that there will be a launch in the next couple of days of an ICBM,” Peter Hughes, the British ambassador to North Korea, said in a news conference with reporters in London via video link from Pyongyang.
He pointed out, however, that “the thing about North Korea is its unpredictability. You cannot say it will never do something.”
Japan also condemned the North’s missile launch.
It is “a serious act of provocation against the security of neighboring countries, including Japan,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said in a statement.”
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/07/04/2009070400516.html
“N.Korea Launches Series of Missiles off its Eastern Coast”
SNIPPET: “The United Nations Security Council imposed a harsh new set of financial sanctions against North Korea last month in response to the nuclear and missile tests. The sanctions allow members to request a search of suspicious cargo to prevent Pyongyang from obtaining material needed for its nuclear and weapons programs.”
SNIPPET: “Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
VOA News / Jul. 04, 2009 21:02 KST”
stepping back in time to June 3, 2009...
Note: Photo included.
Photo caption - quote:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/dprk/html/tongchang-ni_launchpad_dg_090603.htm
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
Pong-Dong-Ni Missile and Space Launch Facility
Tongchang-Ni
Tongchang-ni Launchpad Overview
New imagery as of 3 June 2009 of the launch site at Tongchang-ni shows that the umbilical tower and movable launch pad appear to be operational.
Image Credit: DigitalGlobe.
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/burma/index
#
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285433/posts
“N. Korea using Malaysian bank to deal weapons with Myanmar: source(Kangnam’s cargo)”
Yonhap News ^ | 07/04/09 | Sam Kim
Posted on July 4, 2009 8:08:47 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
#
Previously...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2278989/posts
“N. KOREA “HELPING BURMA WITH WMD” (TOP STORY!)”
Chosun Ilbo News, Seoul ^ | 25 June 2009 (59th anniversary of start of Korean War) | Chosun Ilbo, Seoul, S. Korea (English)
Posted on June 25, 2009 12:55:56 AM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
What? You actually believe they aren’t being financed in part by China?
Write a letter to NK saying please don't do it again. And then complain to the UN.
Yawn....Everyone go back to your barbecues./S
It sucks not having a POTUS with balls, doesn’t it?
So far in the Global Test, POTUS is getting a D.
Wow he looks so “presidential”. /sarcasm
Obama needs to show some balls against this clown and put him out of misery. Talking to a leader or trying a diplomatic solution with a person that even Putin and Chavez think is nuts is mind boggling.
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.