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Pyongyang defiant, tests 2 more missiles

By Zhang Haizhou (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-27 07:57

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) test-fired two more short-range missiles Tuesday, ignoring international condemnation of its nuclear test on Monday and accusing the US of plotting against its government.

The DPRK had test-fired three short-range missiles on Monday hours after conducting a nuclear test, drawing strong reactions from China and the rest of the world.

Yesterday, too, China "firmly opposed" the DPRK's action, but asked the international community to remain calm in formulating a response.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said China is "resolutely opposed" to the nuclear test, and it urges the DPRK to return to the talks. But any action taken by the UN Security Council should help resolve the issue peacefully, he said.

The DPRK test-fired the two 13-km range missiles - one ground-to-air, the other ground-to-sea - from its east coast, the Republic of Korea's (ROK) Yonhap news agency said, citing an unnamed government official.

Yonhap said the DPRK was preparing to launch a third missile from its west coast, again citing an unnamed official.

In a move certain to compound tensions in the region, the ROK said it would join a US-led initiative to intercept ships suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction, an act the DPRK has warned it would consider a declaration of war, Reuters said.

Full coverage:  DPRK Conducts Nuclear Test Related readings:  DPRK test-fires 2 additional short-range missiles  United Nations react to DPRK nuclear test  World concerned over DPRK's nuclear test  S Korean troops on heightened alert amid DPRK's nuclear test  China 'resolutely opposes' DPRK's nuclear test

The nuclear test on Monday, the DPRK's second, after one in 2006, drew sharp rebuke from US President Barack Obama. Underlining concerns over how far the DPRK might be prepared to raise the stakes, Obama assured ROK President Lee Myung-bak of the US' unequivocal commitment to defense on the long-divided peninsula. The demonstrations of military might have also taken a toll on Seoul's jittery financial markets, worried about the impact of the DPRK's growing belligerence in the region.

Pyongyang appeared to be displaying its might a day after the UN Security Council condemned its nuclear test as a "clear violation" of a 2006 resolution banning it from developing a nuclear program, the Associated Press reported yesterday.

The Security Council said it "might demand new sanctions" against Pyongyang, too, AP said.

ROK Defense Minister Lee Sang-Hee and his Chinese counterpart General Liang Guanglie met in Beijing yesterday and "explained" their countries' position on the developments, Xinhua said.

Wang Fan, an expert in international security with China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU), said China "cannot oppose" a possible UN sanction (against the DPRK) even if it is "hard to achieve any sound effect".

"The DPRK is resorting to extreme means to get back to talks and the Six-Party Talks is the only rational platform through which the issue can be resolved," Wang said.

Pyongyang wants bilateral talks with Washington, he said, but the latter wouldn't agree.

"Under the framework of the Six-Party Talks, the DPRK could hold bilateral negotiations with the US," he said.

But both sides have to agree on a "basic code of practice" to avoid always returning to square one.

The Six-Party Talks agenda "should also include non-proliferation", said Su Hao, director of CFAU's Center for Asia-Pacific Studies.

"The aim of the Six-Party Talks is to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula" and non-proliferation is part of that process.