JAPAN/SOUTH KOREA: South Korea and Japan on alert for possible North Korean missile launch
Record ID:
213935
JAPAN/SOUTH KOREA: South Korea and Japan on alert for possible North Korean missile launch
- Title: JAPAN/SOUTH KOREA: South Korea and Japan on alert for possible North Korean missile launch
- Date: 15th April 2013
- Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (APRIL 15, 2013) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS WEARING PAPER BAGS BEARING FLAGS OF SOUTH KOREA, U.S. AND NORTH KOREA MASK OF U.S. NATIONAL FLAG AND DRAWING OF PIGEON STUCK ON IT PROTESTERS WEARING MASKS CHANTING, WHILE HOLDING BOXES BEARING MESSAGE IN KOREAN AND ENGLISH READING: "FOR DENUCLEARIZATION ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA, PEACE TALKS NOW!" PAPER BAG BEARING FLAG OF SOUTH KOREA WITH A DRAWING OF PIGEON STUCK ON IT VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN PROTESTER YOO YOUNG-JAE SAYING: "We urge the United States to hold dialogue with North Korea without any preconditions and sign a peace treaty. Then the dark clouds of war over the Korean peninsula would disappear completely." PLACARD IN KOREAN READING: "NORTH KOREA AND U.S. MEET RIGHT NOW" MORE OF PROTESTERS CHANTING LUNCHEON AT 2013 WORLD JOURNALISTS CONFERENCE ATTENDEES SOUTH KOREA'S FOREIGN MINISTER YUN BYUNG-SE AT PODIUM MORE OF ATTENDEES (SOUNBITE) (English) SOUTH KOREA'S FOREIGN MINISTER YUN BYUNG-SE SAYING: "Basically the new leader in North Korea seems to be different. Before we had more expectations, more predictability on what or how North Korea would do in this kind of provocations. But this time under the young leader, we have less and less predictability." VARIOUS OF ATTENDEES TOKYO, JAPAN (APRIL 15, 2013) (REUTERS) HITOTSUBASHI UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR NOBUMASA AKIYAMA ENTERING ROOM AND SITTING DOWN EYES OF AKIYAMA (SOUNDBITE) (English) HITOTSUBASHI UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR NOBUMASA AKIYAMA SAYING: "If North Korea would launch the missile on the 15th then that credits Kim Il-sung instead of Kim Jong-un, that may give an impression that Kim Jong-un still needs a reliance on the legacy of his grandfather."
- Embargoed: 30th April 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA600B8QOX6KY0QPDMW0WN13TSZ
- Story Text: South Korea and Japan were on alert on Monday (April 15) for a possible North Korea missile launch, as the isolated state celebrates its founder Kim Il-sung's 101st anniversary.
There have been no signs of tension easing on the peninsula after it rejected talks with South Korea aimed at normalising ties and re-opening a joint industrial park.
The United States has also offered talks, but on the pre-condition that North Korea abandons its nuclear weapons ambitions. North Korea deems its nuclear arms a "treasured sword" and has vowed never to give them up.
Activists in Seoul on Monday called for peace talks with any preconditions between the U.S. and North Korea.
"We urge the United States to hold dialogue with North Korea without any preconditions and sign a peace treaty. Then dark clouds of war over the Korean peninsula would disappear completely," organizer of the rally, South Korean Yoo Young-jae told Reuters.
The North has threatened for weeks to attack the United States, South Korea and Japan since new U.N. sanctions were imposed in response to its latest nuclear arms test in February.
South Korea's Defence Ministry said it remained on guard against a possible new missile launch to coincide with the Day of the Sun, the date state founder Kim Il-Sung was born.
Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said Kim Jong-un appears to be more unpredictable compared to his predecessors.
"Basically the new leader in North Korea seems to be different. Before we had more expectations, more predictability on what or how North Korea would do in this kind of provocations. But this time under the young leader, we have less and less predictability," he said.
But analysts discounted speculation that the North would proceed with a launch or a new nuclear test on the anniversary itself.
"If North Korea would launch the missile on the 15th then that credits Kim Il-sung instead of Kim Jong-un, that may give an impression that Kim Jong-un still needs a reliance on the legacy of his grandfather," said Japanese political analyst Nobumasa Akiyama.
Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said his department will remain on alert.
"Today is the 101st anniversary of Kim Il-sung's birth, therefore we continue with emphasized diligence to be vigilant and conduct surveillance," Onodera said.
The celebrations of the "Day of the Sun" are expected to involve a giant military parade through central Pyongyang which will aim to showcase the country's military might.
The communist North marks its biggest two-day holiday from Monday, the birth anniversary of the isolated and impoverished state's founder. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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