By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

The government played down North Korea's warning against a possible ``satellite'' interception by the U.S. ballistic missile defense shield, calling it ``political rhetoric,'' Monday.

``We believe the North's warning is part of its political rhetoric, not a practical move,'' Won Tae-jae, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, told reporters. ``But our military has maintained a firm posture to deal with any North Korean move to take such action seriously.''

The commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), meanwhile, reiterated that the joint Key Resolve/Foal Eagle military training exercises are ``defensive-oriented.''

``These exercises are designed to help teach, coach and mentor military members from both the ROK and U.S. while exercising senior leaders' decision-making capabilities,'' said Gen. Walter Sharp, who concurrently serves as chief of the U.S. Forces Korea and United Nations Command.

The primary goal is to ensure the command is ready to defend South Korea in the event it becomes necessary, he said.

His remarks came after North Korea cut off inter-Korean military channels to protest the South Korea-US military exercises, which began the same day.

The North said it would retaliate and prepare for conflicts if its ``satellite'' launch from its northeastern coast is intercepted by the United States.

U.S. and South Korean intelligence authorities say that North Korea appears to be preparing to test-launch a Taepodong-2 missile capable of hitting parts of the United States under the guise of launching a satellite into space. The missile is believed to have a range of 6,700 kilometers.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said earlier that his government would activate its missile defense system to take down any North Korean long-range missile should one approach U.S. territory.

The United Nations adopted a resolution in 2006 after the North fired several missiles off its eastern waters toward Japan. The resolution bans Pyongyang from engaging in any missile-related activities.

In a move to strengthen its missile defense against North Korean missile threats, the U.S. Navy has deployed more warships equipped with the Aegis Combat System for this year's Key Resolve/Foal Eagle joint military exercises with South Korean forces than it did before, according to a news report.

According to the report, the U.S. Navy dispatched seven of its Aegis warships to the eastern coast of Korea to conduct exercises with South Korea's 7,600-ton Sejong the Great Aegis destroyer during the annual combined command-post/joint field training exercises March 9-20.

Officials of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) declined to comment on the report, citing the issue's sensitivity.

The Aegis warships, used in intercepting high-flying ballistic missiles with advanced SM-2 or SM-3 ship-to-air missiles, are part of the U.S. multi-layered missile defense shield. The Aegis system built by Lockheed Martin is the world's premier surface-to-air/fire-control system, capable of simultaneous operations against aircraft, ballistic and cruise missiles, ships and submarines.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr