North Korea threatens 'thunderbolt of fire' if Japan intercepts its rocket
« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »View GalleryPublished Date: 03 April 2009
By Pauline Jelinek and Mari Yamaguchi
NORTH Korea is fuelling a rocket in final preparations for its threatened launch of a satellite, US defence officials said yesterday, as Japan opened a crisis centre to deal with any emergency from the pariah state's missile passing over its territory.
Senior defence officials in Washington said that propellant vehicles and trailers, signs of fuelling, were in place at North Korea's coastal launch site, and activities there confirmed the rocket was being prepared.
North Korea heightened its miADVERTISEMENT300x250 litaristic rhetoric toward the US, Japan and South Korea yesterday, threatening retaliation for any attempt to shoot down the rocket. Quoting an unidentified North Korean general, the Central News Agency said Japan would be struck with a "thunderbolt of fire" if it attempts to intercept the multistage rocket.
US intelligence analysts believe North Korea aims to launch a communications satellite rather than conducting a missile test, which would violate a UN resolution. However, the rocket launch would yield data directly applicable to its long-range ballistic missile programme.
The North Korean news service also issued a veiled threat against American warships moving into position to monitor the launch, saying: "The United States should immediately withdraw armed forces deployed if it does not want to receive damage."
At the United Nations, Japan's ambassador, Yukio Takasu, said his country would request an emergency meeting of the Security Council to discuss a possible response if North Korea launched the long-range missile in the coming days.
The US and others have threatened North Korea with punishment if they launch the rocket.
North Korea's pre-launch movements are similar to the steps taken in advance of its 2006 firing of a Taepodong-2 missile, a US intelligence official said.
The fuelling starts an informal pre-launch phase that precedes the formal countdown.
"You need to launch within a few days because rocket fuel is typically quite corrosive," said Jeffrey Lewis, an arms control expert at the New America Foundation in Washington.
In Japan's Akita district yesterday, Sukeshiro Terata, the governor, opened a crisis control centre. Japan's Kyodo news agency said the rocket is expected to reach Japan in about ten minutes after its launch, which will be tracked by the US military. It will pass over Akita.
"I'm against the rocket launch because it could be dangerous if it fails," said Yoshikazu Amakawaya, a retired 69-year-old who had been planning to play golf. "But there's nothing I can do but stay home. I don't want to get hit by falling debris."
Last week, Yasukazu Hamada the defence minister, ordered the deployment of Patriot PAC-3 land-to-air missile interceptors for the first time to protect the nation from falling debris if the launch goes awry.
Members of the crisis control headquarters said they are prepared.
By late Wednesday, all 25 towns and villages in Akita had finished installing a computer-based hot line connecting them to the prime minister's office. They held a joint drill yesterday, along with towns in nearby Iwate prefecture.
Officials said police and rescue workers are on standby, while teachers have been told to keep radios and televisions on at all times starting tomorrow to monitor any announcement or unexpected event during school activities. Many schools have classes or sports activities at weekends.
North Korea has notified international organisations that the rocket is expected to drop its first stage into the Sea of Japan about 80 miles off the western coast of Akita before passing over Japan to the Pacific. |
