Monday 3 December 2012

NORTH KOREA’S LAUNCH

Yonhap

S. KOREA, U.S. STEP UP MILITARY POSTURE AHEAD OF N. KOREAN ROCKET LAUNCH

Kim Eun-jung

Yonhap Daily News, December 3, 2012

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States have stepped up their surveillance activities and military readiness to prepare for North Korea's rocket launch scheduled for later this month, military officials and government sources in Seoul said Monday.

After Pyongyang on Saturday announced its decision to launch a rocket carrying a "working satellite" between Dec. 10 and 22, Seoul and Washington have deployed satellites and spy planes to monitor the Dongchang-ri launch site in the North's northwestern tip.

"South Korean and U.S. forces have jointly prepared a firm surveillance status and military readiness to thoroughly monitor all activities related to North Korea's long-range rocket launch," defense ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said.

Following the announcement, the South Korean military has detected signs of preparation for live artillery drills at the North's bases near the tensely guarded western sea border, according to military officials.

The latest move comes after Pyongyang went ahead with its launch preparations in defiance of international calls to cancel the plan.

According a senior government source, the North has installed the first stage of its three-stage rocket onto its launch pad, which means the communist nation will be able to set up all stages of the long-range rocket in the next three or four days.

(...) [article here]

No comments: