Asia Calm as N. Korea Missiles Fired

Another act of defiance from North Korea’s communist regime. North Korea launched four short-range missiles on Thursday, but South Korea and Japan are reacting calmly to the move. South Korea believes the North just wants to flex its military muscles.

The Japanese government reacted calmly to North Korea’s missile launches, but pledged it would keep its eyes on moves by the reclusive state.

North Korea fired four short-range missiles on Thursday, which follows a rocket launch in April that boosted its long-range missile capability and a nuclear test on May 25 that put it closer to having a working atomic bomb.

[Takeo Kawamura, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary]:
„We don’t think they have caused a serious problem to our security at this point. But in case of any future incident that will directly affect Japan’s security, we would like to be ready to explain it to the public.“

South Korea’s defense ministry said the missile firings could have been part of the North’s regular military training.

[Won Tae-jae, South Korean Defense Ministry Spokesman]:
„According to the range, these can be the most dangerous missiles if there are conflicts between South and North Korea. Mid or long range missiles have some international purposes. However, this (short-range missile launches) can be seen as the North’s regular military training, which is usually conducted to deter any possible conflicts with us.“

North Korea has warned ships to keep away from a maritime zone extending 110 kilometers off its east coast between June 25 and July 10, saying it was conducting a military drill.

Meanwhile, a South Korean civic group on Friday sent anti-Pyongyang leaflets into North Korea, a day after the two Koreas failed to come to an agreement over their joint factories.

In Seoul, a hundred protesters gathered to denounce the latest missile launches.

They burned photos of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and his son who is widely expected to be the next leader of the hermit country.

(NTDTV)