Powell, attending meetings on the sidelines of the U.N. And I think their relationship with Japan will be very much affected in a negative way." We hope that they will not launch this kind of missile at this time."īan said a missile launch would have an "immensely negative adverse impact on the ongoing six-party dialogue process," referring to the six-nation talks over North Korea's nuclear program, "as well as the ongoing South-North relationship. "We are very concerned about the North Korea activities. "We have gotten that intelligence report that North Korea appears to be preparing to launch a missile," Ban said in an interview. 23 - South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki Moon said Thursday that intelligence indicating a possible launch of a North Korean ballistic missile is "very much alarming" and that it could set back diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. Prospect of North Korean Missile Launch 'Alarming' to Seoul Powell called such a development ``a very troubling matter'' for China, Russia and Japan.(IHT/Asahi: September 25,2004) (09/25) ``I think it would be very unfortunate if the North Koreans were to do something like this and break out of the moratorium that they have been following for a number of years,'' Powell told a news conference in New York after meeting with South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki Moon. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday warned North Korea not to break the extended moratorium on missile launches it promised Japan in 2002. The official said the United States would not be intimidated, adding there is no possibility of Washington altering its position that North Korea abandon its programs in a verifiable manner. He noted that Pyongyang expressed its hope during recent six-nation talks that the United States and other participants-Japan, South Korea, Russia and China-would reward North Korea for shelving its nuclear and missile ambitions. The official said Washington is not ruling out the possibility the North is ``actually preparing for a launch.'' This, he theorized, might be a North Korean gambit to gain concessions from the international community in return for its agreement to freeze its nuclear and missile programs. Some in Washington believe North Korea ``expects us to go running to them, begging them to stop,'' the official said. He indicated that launch preparations are being done at sites easily visible from the sky, not at mobile launch pads hidden in forests.
The official noted that the North was well aware its moves are being monitored by the United States. He said the Pentagon is fairly certain that Pyongyang is preparing to launch or test-fire a Rodong missile. official said the intelligence was gleaned from satellites and monitoring of telecommunications. Washington, like Japan, is stepping up surveillance of the Korean Peninsula to try to ascertain whether Pyongyang is bluffing in an attempt to gain concessions at six-way talks on its nuclear development programs, or in fact is getting ready to fire a missile. The official suggested that the technicians may only need to conduct final checks before blast-off. Thus, it would only be a matter of hours before a missile was ready for launch.
The official's comments suggest North Korean technicians have filled rockets with liquid fuel. There might be a few more steps they have to take, but they will not take long.'' ``They are pretty well prepared to do it.
``My understanding is they right now could shoot it anytime they want,'' the official said. intelligence showed that preparations for a launch of the medium-range missile appear complete. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said latest U.S.
On the other hand, Pyongyang's posture may simply be aimed at gaining leverage in future negotiations, the official told The Asahi Shimbun here Thursday. WASHINGTON-North Korea may be bluffing, but it appears ready to launch one or more Rodong ballistic missiles capable of hitting Japan anytime it wants, according to a senior U.S.