N. Korea Test-Fires 4 Short-Range Missiles

(CBS/AP)  North Korea test-fired four short-range missiles Thursday, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.

The missiles were fired from the eastern coastal city of Wonsan on Thursday afternoon, a ministry official said on condition of anonymity citing department policy. He did not say what types of missiles were launched, but Yonhap news agency said they were ground-to-ship missiles.

Martin reports that the launch is not a violation of U.N. resolutions because the reclusive regime has only been banned from launching ballistic missiles, not short-range munitions.

North Korea had earlier issued a no-sail zone in waters off its east coast through July 10 for military drills. That designation has been viewed as a prelude to such missile tests.

The new launches are expected to exacerbate the tensions running high since Pyongyang's May 25 underground nuclear test and a series of missile firings. The U.N. Security Council adopted a tough sanctions resolution last month to punish the communist regime.

"If Pyongyang is attempting to decrease recent tensions, the real test will be if negotiations can get North Korea back to the Six-Party Talks," CBS News Foreign Affairs Analyst Pamela Falk said.

"We had expected that they will fire short-range missiles at any time," South Korea's Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan told The Associated Press at a reception held at the U.S. ambassador's residence to mark the U.S. Independence Day, which falls this weekend. "It's not a good sign because they are demonstrating their military power."

The United States is seeking Chinese support to enforce the U.N. sanctions. Philip Goldberg, who is in charge of coordinating the implementation of sanctions against the North, was to meet with Chinese officials in Beijing on Thursday, the U.S. Embassy said.

Earlier in the day, Seoul's JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported that the North could fire a barrage of missiles in coming days, including ballistic Scud or Rodong rockets that the North is banned from testing under U.N. resolutions.

The North has also threatened to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile. Last month, a Japanese newspaper reported that the North could test-fire a long-range missile toward Hawaii as early as around July 4. The U.S. has increased defenses around Hawaii.

But Seoul's YTN television news network said Thursday there are no signs of an imminent long-range missile launch.

The reported missile moves came after a North Korean ship - suspected of possibly carrying illicit weapons - changed course and was heading back the way it came after remaining under U.S. surveillance for more than a week.

(AP)

The North Korean ship is the first vessel monitored under the new U.N. sanctions that seek to clamp down on Pyongyang's trading of banned arms and weapons-related material by requiring U.N. member states to request inspections of ships suspected of carrying prohibited cargo.

The North has said it would consider the interception of its ships a declaration of war.

Separately, North and South Korea ended their latest talks over a troubled joint industrial project, apparently without progress, and failed to set a date for the next round of talks, the Unification Ministry said.

Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung told reporters that the two sides met for a little over one hour in the morning in the North Korean border city of Kaesong. He offered no details.

The two sides have been at odds over the fate of a South Korean worker who has been detained in the North since March for allegedly denouncing its political system. The North has rejected Seoul's repeated calls for the worker's freedom. It has also demanded that South Korean companies sharply increase wages for North Korean workers and fees paid for the use of the land.

As relations with South Korea have deteriorated, the North has halted all key joint projects except for the South Korean-run complex at Kaesong, a prominent symbol of past attempts at reconciliation.

[markey55]

so many people are missing a simple fact. our enemies do NOT fear president Obama. this makes for a very dangerous future. mr. Obama just how long do you think it will take N, Korea to develope a long range missle ? weeks, months ? the correct answer is weeks. we already know they have nuclear technology, is that LESS difficult than creating a long range missle ? of course not. please mr. president the time for action is now.
you lead and america will follow.

[souljam76]

a missle that can go 5000 miles would likely can possible reach The United States. This isn't a good sign. The United States needs to attack North Korea before things get worse.

The United States can't suffer much longer.

[darthcheney345]

When the N Korean ship changed course, this suppsedly "proved" that Obama is a successful president.

Well, I guess this "proves" he's a failure again.

[USASTILLONTOP]

Let's stand idly by and wait till they do something for real.. It'll be too late but hey that's what the liberals in this country do.

[darthcheney345]

No, no.

First you make a big speech.

Declare that you're "watching very very intensely" and that you are "very concerned." Maybe even make some idle threats to "seriously get close to considering the possibility of discussing doing something hypothetically in the event something like this happens some number of additional times."

THEN you stand idly by and wait until they do something else

Then you make the same speech again.

Repeat ad nauseum.

[vietnamwar]

Japan and SKorea and US should test short Missiles to be fair eh...

[ToolMangler1]

I am quite sure that we have a polaris sub close enough to NK to give a live performance.

[Oregon_State_OSU]

N. Korea Test-Fires 4 Short-Range Missiles

More Idle threats from North Korea.

[erasmus111]

by anonymous010 July 2, 2009 7:17 AM PDT
So instead, I propose that we get Canada to do it. They'd never see that coming.


Huh...well, just so long as when they RETALIATE they hit you instead of us. : ) Of course the hopes would be that they wouldn't be able to retaliate. : )

[pepperwood2]

Martin reports that the launch is not a violation of U.N. resolutions because the reclusive regime has only been banned from launching ballistic missiles, not short-range munitions.

What is this? In less that 6 months in Office our BO & Smart SOS have managed to terrorize & antagonize the N.Koreans putting us & those near them on the brink of war. Include the insulting & manipulating of Iran as well. I know blame it on Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy or .......

But they have managed to be rather forceful in threatening our little, weak, neighbor Honduras as they stand up to Chavez. Am I missing something? So Sad!

[darthcheney345]

Maybe they're trying to relive the Cuban Missile Crisis or the Bay of Pigs invasion. Or something. They all wish they were John F Kennedy.

[pensacola8-2009]

It's quite impressive that North Korea launches 4 missiles. Maybe we can egg them on to keep on launching everything they have until they have no more.

Many forget that when the USA dropped two A-bombs over Japan, we drained our supply to zero and had no more for quite some time. The surrender came three days later, and the USA found those three days to pass by like three years, knowing it would be some time before more could be built.

North Korean missiles are not impressive. Iranian SCUD missiles were also not impressive, but since their trajectory was over land, the effect was different.

[anonymous010]

You know, somebody should just bomb North Korea. You need to stand up to a bully. The problem is that if we do it, they'll scream "See! We told you the Americans wanted to bomb us!" So instead, I propose that we get Canada to do it. They'd never see that coming.