| South Korea is not commenting on North Korea's | | | | Commander of U.S. Forces in Korea, General |
| reported launch of two short-range missiles this | | | | Burwell Bell, warned North Korea has 200 |
| week. South Korean media reports cite | | | | mid-range missiles capable of reaching Japan. He |
| anonymous officials who confirm the launch took | | | | said Pyongyang might have long-range missiles |
| place, but say it was part of ordinary drills. | | | | capable of reaching the continental U.S. within the |
| The South Korean government kept quiet | | | | decade. |
| Thursday about media reports of a North Korean | | | | The timing or purpose of this week's reported |
| missile launch this week. | | | | North Korean launch is not clear. |
| South Korean media quote unnamed officials as | | | | But Kim Dae-woo - an analyst at Seoul's Korea |
| saying North Korea launched two short-range | | | | Institute for Defense Analyses - says it was |
| missiles Wednesday morning local time near its | | | | probably just part of regularly scheduled |
| border with China. It is not clear if the launch was | | | | short-range missile drills. |
| a test or a mistake. | | | | "Even North Koreans themselves will believe that |
| South Korea - which has a policy of engaging the | | | | [this] is a minor thing and nobody will think it |
| communist North as a way to better relations - is | | | | serious," said Kim. "If North Korea tested a |
| hesitant to publicly criticize Pyongyang. | | | | large-size [long range] missile, that could be |
| But the reports drew a quick response from | | | | interpreted differently." |
| Washington. U.S. State Department Spokesman | | | | Kim says he and his colleagues are more |
| Sean McCormack said the reported launches are | | | | concerned about newly emerging reports that |
| a source of concern. | | | | North Korea may be selling long-range missile |
| "North Korea's missile program and activities are a | | | | technology to Iran - which is also embroiled in a |
| threat, not only to the region, but the international | | | | dispute with the international community over its |
| community at large," he said. "We are working | | | | nuclear programs. |
| with our friends and allies in the region on | | | | "That development could be really serious," added |
| deployment of active missile defenses." | | | | Kim. "That could prompt a response from the U.S. |
| North Korea test-fired a long-range missile over | | | | If that is true, it is a really serious development." |
| Japan in 1998 - alarming the international | | | | This week's reported launch comes within 24 |
| community. But Pyongyang has not conducted | | | | hours of Pyongyang's latest announcement that it |
| any medium- and long-range missile tests since. | | | | will not return to multinational talks aimed at |
| North Korea is also believed to be one of the | | | | ending its nuclear weapons programs. Three years |
| world's largest exporters of missile technology. | | | | of negotiations have not produced any progress |
| In U.S. Senate testimony this week, the | | | | on the issue. |