It has been widely reported that North Korea has set the Taepodong-2 on the missile launch pad in the town of Moosudan-ri, Hwadae, North Hamkyung-Province, somewhat earlier than anticipated.
The Japanese Kyodo News Agency reported on the 26th that “North Korea has set up what appears to be a long-range missile,” quoting an unnamed source.
NBC news reported that “While two stages of the missile can be seen, the top is covered with a shroud supported by a crane” quoting U.S. officials. This means the international community still cannot work out if the projectile carries a warhead or a satellite.
North Korea previously announced that a satellite would be launched between April 4 and 8 and informed the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization accordingly. A missile such as this can be launched three or four days after filling its fuel tanks. Therefore, experts expected the missile to appear on the launch pad next week.
As the date of possible Taepodong-2 launch comes closer, the Six Party Talks member countries are expected to quicken discussions regarding how to respond. Japan, especially, has concluded that it will take strict measures, including using its own missiles to destroy any parts of the Taepodong-2 that fall over Japanese territory or in territorial waters.
The U.S. previously suggested possible measures to intercept the projectile, but is currently showing discretion while speaking sternly of possible sanctions by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). South Korea has also spoken of “inevitable sanctions against North Korea” but is admitting to an opinion gap among Russia, China and other nations at the same time.
China, with regards to sanctions in the UNSC, has taken up a careful stance, emphasizing that “The missile issue should be further discussed within the Six Party Talks.”
North Korea previously announced on the 24th its intention to cease attending the Six Party Talks if the U.N. imposes sanctions against North Korea regarding the launch of its “satellite,” which the North continues to insist the projectile is.
Acting deputy spokesman for the U.S. Department of State Gordon Duguid stated during a daily press briefing on the 25th that “If we can just return to some of the facts on this: After a previous launch, the UN Security Council made it clear that ballistic missile technology that is used for launching satellites or launching missiles is, in effect, the same, and held North Korea to a commitment not to engage in ballistic missile testing.” He further warned North Korea, saying that, “The United States would consider the launch of a space vehicle which relies on ballistic missile technology as a violation of current UN Security Council resolutions. We would then move on from that point.”
Meanwhile, the South Korean military authorities have mentioned the possibility of sending the King Sejong the Great destroyer to the East Sea in readiness.
The King Sejong the Great, the first South Korean guided missile destroyer, is equipped with technology such as the SPY-ID(V) radar that can detect and trace targets on land, in the sea or air at a distance of up to 1,000 km.
The destroyer will be responsible for tracing the North Korean projectile over the East Sea. Currently there are already two Aegis-equipped destroyers each from the United States and Japan in the area.
