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North Korea Again Fires Short-Range Missile North Korea Again Fires Short-Range Projectile
(about 2 hours later)
SEOUL — North Korea launched a short-range projectile into waters off its east coast on Sunday, as South Korea condemned the North’s provocations and urged it to accept a proposal for dialogue.SEOUL — North Korea launched a short-range projectile into waters off its east coast on Sunday, as South Korea condemned the North’s provocations and urged it to accept a proposal for dialogue.
North Korea conducted three similar launchings in the same area on Saturday, rattling the region where governments have hoped for an easing of tensions following months of bellicose rhetoric from the North. North Korea conducted three similar launchings in the same area on Saturday, rattling the region where governments have hoped for an easing of tensions after months of bellicose pronouncements from the North.
South Korean officials had called the weapons tested on Saturday “short-range guided missiles.” On Sunday, they began referring to what was launched over the last two days as “projectiles,” saying they may have included not only the modified KN-02 short-range guided missile but also rockets from its new multiple launcher.South Korean officials had called the weapons tested on Saturday “short-range guided missiles.” On Sunday, they began referring to what was launched over the last two days as “projectiles,” saying they may have included not only the modified KN-02 short-range guided missile but also rockets from its new multiple launcher.
South Korea deeply fears North Korea’s artillery and multiple-rocket launchers, which are massed along the border with the South and capable of delivering a barrage on the South’s densely populated capital, Seoul. South Korea fears North Korea’s artillery and multiple-rocket launchers, which are massed along the border with the South and capable of delivering a barrage on the South’s densely populated capital, Seoul.
The United States and South Korea have been increasing their capabilities to counter that part of the North Korean arsenal in recent years, especially after the North’s artillery attack on a South Korean border island in 2010 that killed four people. On Sunday, South Korea confirmed the deployment of dozens of Israeli Spike missiles and their mobile launchers on its western border islands. The United States and South Korea have been increasing their abilities to counter that part of the North Korean arsenal in recent years, especially after the North’s artillery attack on a South Korean border island in 2010 that killed four people. On Sunday, South Korea confirmed the deployment of dozens of Israeli Spike missiles and their mobile launchers on its western border islands.
The precision-guided missiles, with a range of 12 miles, target North Korean coastal guns and rocket batteries. Those precision-guided missiles, with a range of 12 miles, would target North Korean coastal guns and rocket batteries.
But North Korea has been expanding the capabilities of its rockets and missiles. Its newest multiple launcher can fire rockets more than 62 miles. North Korea has also been expanding the capabilities of its rockets and missiles. Its newest multiple launcher can fire rockets more than 62 miles.
Earlier Sunday, Kim Hyung-suk, a spokesman for the South’s Unification Ministry, called the North’s weapons tests a “deplorable” provocation.Earlier Sunday, Kim Hyung-suk, a spokesman for the South’s Unification Ministry, called the North’s weapons tests a “deplorable” provocation.
He also reiterated a call for dialogue with the North to resolve a standoff over the inter-Korean industrial zone in the North Korean town of Kaesong. Operations there have been suspended since early last month, when North Korea withdrew its 53,000 workers from the complex, angry over what it called Washington’s and Seoul’s hostile policies toward the North. It has since rejected a repeated South Korean offer for talks, as both Koreas have blamed each other for the shutdown of their best-known joint economic project. He also reiterated a call for dialogue with the North to resolve a standoff over the inter-Korean industrial zone in the North Korean town of Kaesong. Operations there have been suspended since early last month, when North Korea withdrew its 53,000 workers from the complex, angry over what it called Washington’s and Seoul’s hostile policies toward the North. It has since rejected repeated South Korean offers for talks, and both Koreas have blamed the other for the shutdown of their best-known joint economic project.