 U.S. National Intelligence |
Staff Reporter
North Korea seems to be preparing for a ``satellite'' launch as it claimed, Dennis Blair, director of the U.S. National Intelligence, said Tuesday.
South Korea, meanwhile, reaffirmed that both satellite and missile launches would be a violation of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1718.
``I tend to believe that the North Koreans announced that they are going to do a space launch and I believe that that's what they intend,'' Blair told the Senate Armed Services Committee. ``I could be wrong but that would be my estimate.''
The isolated state announced late last month it would launch a Kwangmyongsong-2 satellite as part of its space program.
But some outside experts speculated it would be a test launch of a Taepodong-2 long-range missile, considered capable of reaching Alaska and Hawaii.
Such a missile was fired in 2006 but failed shortly after launch, according to reports.
``There's a space launch vehicle that North Korea launches, the technology is indistinguishable from intercontinental ballistic missiles,'' said Blair.
``And if a three-stage space launch vehicle works, then that could reach not only Alaska, Hawaii but also part of what the Hawaiians call `the Mainland' and what the Alaskans call the Lower 48,'' he added.
South Korea downplayed the remarks, claiming a rocket launch itself does not matter.
``Even if North Korea launches a satellite, it would be part of a test for missile technology. That's why we're concerned,'' a government official was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan reiterated that any launch would violate the UNSC Resolution, saying, ``(A missile launch) would foster tensions in international society as well as Northeast Asia and negatively influence the six-party talks.''
Regarding the North Korean leader's health, Blair said Kim Jong-il ``probably suffered a stroke in August that incapacitated him for several weeks. It appears that his health has improved and we assess he is making key decisions.''
``We see no organized opposition to Kim's rule and only occasional incidents of social disorder,'' he added.
Kim, 67, failed to appear in an event to mark the 60th anniversary of the North's founding last September, which fired up rumors that the dictator might have indeed suffered a stroke and be incapable of leading the state.
ksy@koreatimes.co.kr
In an unusual move, North Korea directly expressed its dismay with the government of President Barack Obama Wednesday, Yonhap News agency reported. ``The new administration of the United States is now working hard to infringe upon the sovereignty of the DPRK by force of arms ... after letting loose a whole string of words and deeds little short of getting on the nerves of the DPRK and seriously interfering in its internal affairs'' the North's Foreign Ministry spokesman said. The North did not elaborate, but the statement appeared to be linked to a series of remarks recently made by senior Washington officials and reports that have irked Pyongyang, the report said. During her Asia trip last month, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton touched on the sensitive issue of succession in North Korea, saying ``the whole leadership situation is somewhat unclear.'' The remarks stirred discussion in the region, as they were the first such reference from a senior U.S. official on dealing with the post-Kim Jong-il era. U.S. Gen. Walter Sharp, commander of the U.S. forces in Korea, told reporters last month that South Korea and the United States have devised several scenarios to prepare for all contingencies related to North Korea. Cheong Seong-chang, an analyst with the Sejong Institute in Seoul, said North Korea was specifically taking on the U.S. State Department with its Foreign Ministry statement, according to Yonhap. ``The North is sending its message clearly that the United States needs to acknowledge the North Korean regime and respect it as a partner for dialogue,'' Cheong was quoted as saying. |
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