Name: Anonymous 2006-03-08 11:12
Two ground-to-air missiles fired by Pyongyang near its border with China may have landed in North Korean territory, a Japanese news agency reported, citing security sources.
Kyodo News agency cited an "Asian security source" as saying the missiles were fired by mistake in the direction of China during a military drill, and the missiles appeared to have landed in North Korean territory.
But the agency also cited a "Western military source" as saying the short-range missiles were test-fired in an eastern direction from the North's eastern coast, toward the Sea of Japan.
The agency said it couldn't immediately reconcile the conflicting reports. The exact time of their launch was unknown, Kyodo said.
Japan's Defense Ministry refused to comment, saying it could not disclose information on specific activities. But Japan "constantly monitored the military activities of neighboring countries," a spokesman said on condition of anonymity, citing regulations.
Kyodo quoted an unnamed defense official as saying the government would not inform the public of the possible misfires because they did not threaten Japan's security.
Yang Chang-seok, spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, which deals with North Korean affairs, said the ministry could not confirm the report. Calls to China's Defense Ministry in Beijing went unanswered Wednesday night.
Pyongyang shocked Tokyo and other nations when it test-fired a ballistic missile over northern Japan in 1998.
Analysts say North Korea is developing long-range missiles capable of reaching Alaska, Hawaii or perhaps other states on the West Cost of the United States.
Japan and the United States have since started to develop a joint ballistic missile defense system, and Tokyo has said it will launch two spy satellites by March 2007 to monitor North Korea and other trouble spots.
Kyodo News agency cited an "Asian security source" as saying the missiles were fired by mistake in the direction of China during a military drill, and the missiles appeared to have landed in North Korean territory.
But the agency also cited a "Western military source" as saying the short-range missiles were test-fired in an eastern direction from the North's eastern coast, toward the Sea of Japan.
The agency said it couldn't immediately reconcile the conflicting reports. The exact time of their launch was unknown, Kyodo said.
Japan's Defense Ministry refused to comment, saying it could not disclose information on specific activities. But Japan "constantly monitored the military activities of neighboring countries," a spokesman said on condition of anonymity, citing regulations.
Kyodo quoted an unnamed defense official as saying the government would not inform the public of the possible misfires because they did not threaten Japan's security.
Yang Chang-seok, spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, which deals with North Korean affairs, said the ministry could not confirm the report. Calls to China's Defense Ministry in Beijing went unanswered Wednesday night.
Pyongyang shocked Tokyo and other nations when it test-fired a ballistic missile over northern Japan in 1998.
Analysts say North Korea is developing long-range missiles capable of reaching Alaska, Hawaii or perhaps other states on the West Cost of the United States.
Japan and the United States have since started to develop a joint ballistic missile defense system, and Tokyo has said it will launch two spy satellites by March 2007 to monitor North Korea and other trouble spots.