DPRK paper praises military strength

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(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-07-06 09:00

SEOUL: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sunday hailed the strength of its military after it launched a salvo of ballistic missiles in a show of firepower that earned international criticism.

In a commentary, the ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun praised Pyongyang's "army-first policy", which gave DPRK the capacity to hit enemies with what it called a "merciless" strike.

"Our defense industry... laid a firm foundation to produce any kind of (weapons) needed for modern warfare freely," because of the policy, the newspaper said.

The missiles - which DPRK is banned from firing under UN resolutions - were launched into the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on Saturday in an act of defiance apparently timed for the US Independence Day holiday.

They further fuelled regional tensions after its nuclear test in May. The launches came as Washington seeks support for tough enforcement of United Nations sanctions aimed at shutting down Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs.

It was the biggest salvo of ballistic weaponry since DPRK fired a long-range Taepodong-2 and six smaller missiles on US Independence Day in 2006.

Saturday's launches were seen as more provocative since the missiles could potentially reach most of Republic of Korea (ROK), and possibly parts of Japan.

Washington's relatively mild reaction showed US officials do not want "a catastrophic confrontation with North Korea or heightened regional tensions," said Professor Kim Yong-Hyun of Seoul's Dongguk University.

The US State Department urged Pyongyang not to "aggravate tensions" and called the launches "not helpful".

Seoul's foreign ministry said the "provocative act... clearly violates" three UN Security Council resolutions, including the latest one on June 12 which toughened weapons-related sanctions on DPRK in response to its May 25 nuclear test.

Ship homeward bound

A DPRK ship was seen sailing in international waters off ROK's west coast Sunday after being tracked by the US Navy on suspicion of carrying weapons, a report said.

ROK's military was on watch as the Kang Nam 1 headed back to its home port in the Yellow Sea, Yonhap news agency said. ROK officials declined to comment.

Yonhap quoted an unnamed government official as saying the ship is expected to reach DPRK waters today.

The vessel, which left home on June 17, was originally reported to be bound for Myanmar but it changed course after being followed by the US Navy on suspicion of carrying weapons.

It was the first DPRK ship to be tracked under new UN sanctions imposed on the country following its nuclear test in May.

AFP-Reuters