NK Test-Fires 2nd Missile in 2 Weeks
2003-03-10
North Korea on Monday (March 10) test-fired the second short-range anti-ship missile over the East Sea in two weeks, the Defense Ministry said.
"At noon the North fired what seemed to be a surface-to-ship cruise missile identical to the one fired on Feb. 24 from the same spot in Sinsang-ri, South Hamgyeong Province," a senior ministry official said.
The missile landed some 110 kilometers off the eastern coast, he added.
"It is not clear whether the test was successful," the official said, adding that it will take some time for the government to find out.
The test launch of a short-range missile on Feb. 24 over the East Sea failed due to faulty parts, the Defense Ministry said last week.
The missile seems to be a new type of surface-to-ship missile with a maximum range of 160 kilometers, the ministry said in a report to the National Assembly.
Monday's launch was expected as Pyongyang cordoned off the waters nearby over the weekend, as it had done prior to the Feb. 24 launch.
"The North's launch basically seems to be part of efforts to improve its missile capabilities," a Unification Ministry official said, cautioning against attaching too much strategic meaning to the incident.
The tests were timed to coincide with the large-scale South Korea-U.S. joint military drill which started earlier this month and will carry through to next month.
Officials here said the test itself does not violate any international treaty, as it is not one of the long-range, ballistic Daepodong missiles that they fear can hit mainland U.S.
North Korea carried out more than 30 such missile tests since 1981, according to intelligence.
Source : www.korea.net
