DATE=9/4/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238169
TITLE=JAPAN / NORTH KOREA MISSLE (L) UPDATE
BYLINE=STEVEN HERMAN
DATELINE=TOKYO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
NORTH KOREAN STATE RADIO IS SAYING FOREIGN COUNTRIES HAVE IT ALL
WRONG THAT PYONGYANG DID NOT TEST FIRE A BALLISTIC MISSILE THIS
WEEK. STEVE HERMAN REPORTS FROM TOKYO, THAT THE NORTH KOREANS
SAY THAT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IS THAT THEY LAUNCHED A SATELLITE
INTO SPACE ON MONDAY.
TEXT: THE RADIO PYONGYANG BROADCAST MONITORED IN TOKYO IS THE
FIRST TO DIRECT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM NORTH KOREA THAT IT HAD
FIRED A ROCKET, ALTHOUGH IT CLAIMS IT WAS THE LAUNCH OF SATELLITE
RATHER THAN TO TEST A NEW MILITARY MISSILE.
THE BROADCAST DOES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE FIRST STAGE OF THE ROCKET
FELL INTO THE SEA OF JAPAN AND THE SECOND STAGE DROPPED IN THE
PACIFIC OCEAN. BUT IT CLAIMS THAT A THIRD STAGE PUT A SATELLITE
IN OBIT. JAPAN'S DEFENSE AGENCY SAYS IT WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE
THAT THE NORTH KOREANS COULD HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYED A
SATELLITE ON MONDAY.
WITH REPORTS THAT NORTH KOREA MAY SOON FIRE A SECOND MISSILE,
DEFENSE OFFICIALS HERE, CRITICIZED FOR A SLOW AND MUTED RESPONSE
TO THE FIRST LAUNCH, ARE BEING ASKED WHAT THEY WILL DO IF THERE
IS INDEED ANOTHER SHOT FROM NORTH KOREA. DEFENSE AGENCY DIRECTOR
GENERAL FUKUSHIRO NUKAGA TOLD REPORTERS JAPAN WILL DO WHAT IT
NEEDS TO DEFEND ITSELF AND TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC.
FORCES ARE ON ALERT FOR A SECOND LAUNCH IN JAPAN BUT PRESS
SPECULATION THAT JAPAN MIGHT BOMB SUSPECTED MISSILE CONSTRUCTION
AND LAUNCH SITES IN NORTH KOREA WERE QUICKLY SHOT DOWN BY THE
FOREIGN MINISTRY. ITS SPOKESMAN SADAAKI NUMATA TOLD V-O-A THAT
ANY SUCH SPECULATION IS PREPOSTEROUS AND JAPAN COULD ONLY ATTACK
NORTH KOREA IF THERE'S A STATE OF WAR.
MONDAY'S LAUNCH OF A TAEPO DONG ONE MISSILE DEMONSTRATED NORTH
KOREA CAN NOW HIT ANY PART OF JAPAN INCLUDING U.S. MILITARY BASES
HERE. (SIGNED)
NEB/SH/GE
04-Sep-98 10:35 AM EDT (1435 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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