US Warns N Korea Off Missile Test

We should keep a close eye on these North Koreans Peter Paton   US Warns N Korea Off Missile Test http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5096470.stm

The Taepodong missile could reach Alaska (archive picture) Senior US officials have urged North Korea to abandon any "provocative" plan to test-launch a long-range missile. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said any launch would be viewed by the US as a "very serious matter". And the US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, said he was consulting members of the UN Security Council. North Korea has observed a self-imposed moratorium on missile launches since 1999, but is reported to have fuelled a new model capable of reaching Alaska. The Taepodong-2 is believed to have a range of up to 6,000km (3,700 miles). Speaking at a news conference in Washington, Ms Rice expressed stern US opposition to any possible launch. I can assure everyone that it will be taken with utmost seriousness Condoleezza Rice "It would be a very serious matter, and indeed a provocative act should North Korea decide to launch that missile," she said. "We will obviously consult [with allies] on next steps, but I can assure everyone that it will be taken with utmost seriousness." She stressed that North Korea had repeatedly agreed not to test-launch any new missiles, both independently and in the context of six-nation talks on its nuclear programme. Regional concerns Earlier, Mr Bolton said he had spoken to members of the Security Council to discuss how to react to any possible firing of the missile. "Obviously the first preference is that the North Koreans not light the missile off. We've made that clear to them," he said. N Korea's missile programme The US comments came hours after Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Tokyo would take "stern measures" against any launch. Unnamed US officials have echoed reports in the New York Times on Sunday that North Korea had completed fuelling its new missile. This suggests that Pyongyang could launch the missile within a month, officials said. North Korea last tested a long-range missile in 1998, when it fired a Taepodong-1 missile, with a range of 2,000km (1,200 miles) over northern Japan. The missile landed in the Pacific Ocean. Diplomatic ploy? Speculation has been mounting for some time that the North was preparing for a test, after US satellites started noticing preparations at North Korea's Taepodong launch site at Musudan-ri. North Korea's every move is being monitored Diplomats say that North Korean technicians are going through the same procedures undertaken before the test in 1998. Pyongyang has been silent on any possible launch, but in comments carried through its state news agency KCNA, it criticised the attitude of the US and Japan towards North Korea. "The Korean army and people will do their best to increase the military deterrent with sharp vigilance to cope with the moves of the US, which is hell-bent on provocations for war of aggression on the DPRK ( Democratic People's Republic of Korea)," the statement said. The missile concerns follow months of stalemate on North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Correspondents say North Korea may be using the missile threat to try to break the deadlock.