efq
06-03-2009, 07:47 AM
North Korea further ratcheted up tension along the Korean peninsular today when it threatened the safety of South Korean civilian aircraft flying near it's territory.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2009/Mar/Week1/15235782.jpg Anti-war protesters demonstrate ahead of joint US-South Korean military exercises
The North delivered the threat on the eve of the annual military excercises involving US and South Korean (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/South_Korea) forces.
A statement on the official media said it could not ensure the safety of South Korean flights over the Sea of Japan because a 12-day joint US-South Korean military exercise could trigger a war.
"No one knows what military conflicts will be touched off by the reckless war exercises" south of the border, it said.
The warning prompted an urgent call by the government in Seoul to retract its "inhumane" threat against civilian air traffic.
"The government urges North Korea (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/North_Korea) immediately to withdraw military threats against civilian air flights," the unification ministry said in a statement.
"A military threat to the normal operations of civil airplanes not only violates international rules but is also an inhumane act that can never be justified."
The government is taking speedy steps to secure the safety of civilian flights over the Sea of Japan, the statement said.
Both Korean Air and Asiana airlines have already re-routed their flights away from the threatened air space.
"Actions such as these are distinctly unhelpful, unwelcome and unnecessary," said a US State Department spokesman, Gordon Duguid, in Washington.
"The North Koreans should be working on their commitments to the... six parties and fulfilling their agreements under the six-party talks, rather than making statements that are...threatening to peaceful aviation."
These latest threats from the North come at a time of escalating tensions along the peninsular.
For the second time this week North Korean Generals are meeting with the US led UN Command for urgent talks on the de-militarised zone (DMZ).
North Korea is still preparing for the test launch of a long range ballistic missile that has the range to strike the US West Coast.
Ooer, lets hope this doesn't lead to anything bad.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/North-Korea-Threatens-Safety-Of-South-Korean-Civilian-Planes-Ahead-Of-Military-Exercises/Article/200903115235780?lpos=World_News_First_Home_Article _Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15235780_North_Korea_Threatens_Safety_ Of_South_Korean_Civilian_Planes_Ahead_Of_Military_ Exercises
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Missile Fears Over North Korea Rocket Launch
North Korea's plans to launch a satellite could be a cover-up for a long-range missile test, the US and its allies fear.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2009/Feb/Week4/15228663.jpg North Koreans participate in celebrations in 2008
Pyongyang said it would send a satellite into orbit on one of its rockets as part of its space programme.
Intelligence officials have reported brisk personnel and vehicle activity at the Hwadae launch site.
But analysts have warned that satellite images show North Korea is gearing up to test-fire a missile.
North Korea's longest-range missile, the Taepodong-2, has the potential to reach Alaska.
Reports suggest the missile being prepared for launch may be an advanced version of the Taepodong-2 that could reach the US west coast.
North Korea (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/North_Korea) has only once tested the Taepodong-2, in 2006, when it flew for a few seconds and then exploded.
A space agency official was quoted as saying: "The preparations for launching experimental communications satellite Kwangmyongsong-2 by means of delivery rocket Unha-2 are now making brisk headway."
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2009/Feb/Week4/15228495.jpg North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il
North Korea recently said it bears the right to "space development" - words the regime has used in the past to disguise a missile test.
In 1998, it test-fired a Taepodong-1 ballistic missile over Japan (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Japan) and then claimed to have put a satellite into orbit.
The latest announcement, which unsettled financial markets in South Korea (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/South_Korea), follows weeks of angry words from Pyongyang (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Pyongyang).
The rhetoric is aimed at the conservative government in Seoul amid warnings the Korean peninsula was on the verge of war.
South Korea's defence minister has said launch preparations could be completed within two weeks.
Analysts have warned the North may fire a missile to send a strong signal to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who took office a year ago with a hard-line policy on North Korea, and to new US President Barack Obama (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Barack_Obama).
North Korea is banned from any ballistic missile activity under a UN Security Council resolution adopted after the North's first-ever nuclear test in 2006.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2009/Mar/Week1/15235782.jpg Anti-war protesters demonstrate ahead of joint US-South Korean military exercises
The North delivered the threat on the eve of the annual military excercises involving US and South Korean (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/South_Korea) forces.
A statement on the official media said it could not ensure the safety of South Korean flights over the Sea of Japan because a 12-day joint US-South Korean military exercise could trigger a war.
"No one knows what military conflicts will be touched off by the reckless war exercises" south of the border, it said.
The warning prompted an urgent call by the government in Seoul to retract its "inhumane" threat against civilian air traffic.
"The government urges North Korea (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/North_Korea) immediately to withdraw military threats against civilian air flights," the unification ministry said in a statement.
"A military threat to the normal operations of civil airplanes not only violates international rules but is also an inhumane act that can never be justified."
The government is taking speedy steps to secure the safety of civilian flights over the Sea of Japan, the statement said.
Both Korean Air and Asiana airlines have already re-routed their flights away from the threatened air space.
"Actions such as these are distinctly unhelpful, unwelcome and unnecessary," said a US State Department spokesman, Gordon Duguid, in Washington.
"The North Koreans should be working on their commitments to the... six parties and fulfilling their agreements under the six-party talks, rather than making statements that are...threatening to peaceful aviation."
These latest threats from the North come at a time of escalating tensions along the peninsular.
For the second time this week North Korean Generals are meeting with the US led UN Command for urgent talks on the de-militarised zone (DMZ).
North Korea is still preparing for the test launch of a long range ballistic missile that has the range to strike the US West Coast.
Ooer, lets hope this doesn't lead to anything bad.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/North-Korea-Threatens-Safety-Of-South-Korean-Civilian-Planes-Ahead-Of-Military-Exercises/Article/200903115235780?lpos=World_News_First_Home_Article _Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15235780_North_Korea_Threatens_Safety_ Of_South_Korean_Civilian_Planes_Ahead_Of_Military_ Exercises
RELATED ARTICLE
Missile Fears Over North Korea Rocket Launch
North Korea's plans to launch a satellite could be a cover-up for a long-range missile test, the US and its allies fear.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2009/Feb/Week4/15228663.jpg North Koreans participate in celebrations in 2008
Pyongyang said it would send a satellite into orbit on one of its rockets as part of its space programme.
Intelligence officials have reported brisk personnel and vehicle activity at the Hwadae launch site.
But analysts have warned that satellite images show North Korea is gearing up to test-fire a missile.
North Korea's longest-range missile, the Taepodong-2, has the potential to reach Alaska.
Reports suggest the missile being prepared for launch may be an advanced version of the Taepodong-2 that could reach the US west coast.
North Korea (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/North_Korea) has only once tested the Taepodong-2, in 2006, when it flew for a few seconds and then exploded.
A space agency official was quoted as saying: "The preparations for launching experimental communications satellite Kwangmyongsong-2 by means of delivery rocket Unha-2 are now making brisk headway."
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2009/Feb/Week4/15228495.jpg North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il
North Korea recently said it bears the right to "space development" - words the regime has used in the past to disguise a missile test.
In 1998, it test-fired a Taepodong-1 ballistic missile over Japan (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Japan) and then claimed to have put a satellite into orbit.
The latest announcement, which unsettled financial markets in South Korea (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/South_Korea), follows weeks of angry words from Pyongyang (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Pyongyang).
The rhetoric is aimed at the conservative government in Seoul amid warnings the Korean peninsula was on the verge of war.
South Korea's defence minister has said launch preparations could be completed within two weeks.
Analysts have warned the North may fire a missile to send a strong signal to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who took office a year ago with a hard-line policy on North Korea, and to new US President Barack Obama (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Barack_Obama).
North Korea is banned from any ballistic missile activity under a UN Security Council resolution adopted after the North's first-ever nuclear test in 2006.