But while saying that diplomacy remains the first course of action, with the Japanese government stating it hopes the US Security Council will be able to suitably respond to the DPRK's fourth test of a nuclear device on Jan 6, the defense ministry said it remains on high alert.
Japan's Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told a press briefing Tuesday that his ministry is fully poised for any rocket or missile tests by the DPRK, stating that Patriot Advanced Capability-3, or PAC-3, surface-to-air missile systems have been deployed at 34 locations.
The locations comprise the ministry's facilities in Ichigaya in Tokyo, as well as in Asaka and Narashino, which is close to the nation's capital.
Nakatani said a launch could occur without prior notice and as such Japan had to ready itself for a number of potential scenarios...
Xinhua
2/2/16
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La Corée du Nord avertit le transport maritime qu'elle lancera un satellite ...
ReplyDeleteLa Corée du Nord a averti le transport maritime d'un lancement de satellite prévu entre le 8 et le 25 février, a annoncé mardi l'Organisation maritime internationale (OMI).
Cette annonce fait suite à des rumeurs ces derniers jours sur la préparation par la Corée du Nord d'un test de missile balistique, nouveau pas vers son objectif de se doter de missiles nucléaires, en violation des résolutions de l'ONU.
Un tel essai mettrait encore plus le pouvoir de Pyongyang au ban de la communauté internationale, alors qu'une nouvelle résolution de l'ONU est en préparation pour alourdir les sanctions après l'annonce par Pyongyang le 6 janvier de son quatrième test de bombe nucléaire.
L'agence de presse japonaise Kyodo, citant une source gouvernementale japonaise, avait affirmé la semaine dernière que des images satellite laissaient présager que l'essai d'un tir de missile balistique de longue portée pourrait intervenir rapidement depuis le site de Dongchan-ri, dans l'ouest du pays.
Un responsable américain de la Défense avait affirmé vendredi que la Corée du Nord semblait préparer le lancement d'un engin spatial, mais que rien n'indiquait qu'il s'agisse d'un missile.
AFP
N. Korea's planned rocket launch 'serious breach' of UN resolutions...
ReplyDeleteSouth Korea and Japan on Wednesday echoed US warnings that North Korea would pay a heavy price if it pushes ahead with a planned rocket launch just weeks after conducting its fourth nuclear test.
Urging Pyongyang to drop its plans for a launch as early as next week, the government in Seoul said the move would be a serious breach of UN resolutions and a “direct challenge” to the international community.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned what he called a “serious provocation” and clear violation of Pyongyang’s international obligations.
The warnings came a day after North Korea announced a February 8-25 window for the launch, ostensibly aimed at putting an Earth observation satellite into orbit.
UN resolutions forbid the North from any use of ballistic missile technology, and Tuesday’s announcement saw Pyongyang doubling down against an international community already struggling to come up with a united response to last month’s nuclear test.
“It’s a classic move,” said John Delury, an associate professor at Yonsei University in Seoul.
“While waiting for a full response for the nuclear test, you might as well sneak in a rocket launch. The North tends to do these things in pairs,” Delury said.
The United States, which has been spearheading a diplomatic drive for harsher, more effective sanctions on Pyongyang, was quick to condemn the launch plan....france24.com
3/2/16