JAPAN: U.S. bases in Japan on heightened alert ahead of UN resolution on North Korea

Record ID: 464881

  • Title: JAPAN: U.S. bases in Japan on heightened alert ahead of UN resolution on North Korea
  • Date: 30th May 2009
  • Summary: KADENA, JAPAN (MAY 29, 2009) (REUTERS) WIDE OF KADENA AIR FORCE BASE, OKINAWA KADENA CONTROL TOWER A SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT RC-135S "COBRA BALL" LANDING AT KADENA IN THE RAIN FIRE TRUCK DRIVING ALONG THE TARMAC WITH THE COBRA BALL MEDIA FILMING THE BASE ROYAL AIR FORCE VICKERS VC10 ARRIVING FROM BEHIND THE RC-135S MORE OF VC10 VARIOUS OF PERSONNEL CHECKING THE VC10
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA8N0L4EJXOBRHNLCTZE1X4YRGM
  • Story Text: U.S. bases on the southern island of Okinawa were on heightened alert on Friday (May 29), after South Korea and the United States raised the military alert level in the region on the previous day.
    On Thursday (May 28), following declarations by the communist North warning the truce ending the Korean War was dead and it was ready to attack, both countries raised their alert levels.
    North Korea ramped up tensions this week with a series of provocations rarely seen since the 1950-53 Korean War, including war threats, missile launches and a nuclear test that puts it closer to having an atomic bomb.
    At least one RC-135S "Cobra Ball' and a Royal Air Force Vickers VC10 surveillance places were seen taking off and landing regularly at Kadena U.S. Air Force base on the southern island of Okinawa on Friday.
    In New York, the United States and Japan circulated a draft U.N. Security Council resolution to key council members that condemned Pyongyang's second nuclear test over the weekend and called for strict enforcement of U.N. sanctions imposed on North Korea after its first atomic test in October 2006.
    A vote in the full 15-nation Security Council could come as early as next week, diplomats said.
    Japan said it was ready to move on its sanctions as soon as the United Nation completes its sanctions.
    "The international community plans to send a message by working towards implementing a resolution adopting additional sanctions and restrictions towards North Korea. As for Japan's response, while we will respect the UN decisions, we also hope to think of the problem from our government's position," Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone told parliament on Friday.
    Analysts said the sabre-rattling may be partly aimed at firming leader Kim Jong-il's grip on power and helping him draw up succession plans in Asia's only communist dynasty after a suspected stroke in August raised questions over his rule.
    Weapons experts point out that while North Korea is pushing hard to develop a nuclear arsenal, it does not have an effective way to attack with an atomic warhead or bomb.
    In the draft resolution, obtained by Reuters, the council "condemns in the strongest terms the nuclear test conducted by (North Korea) on 25 May 2009 in flagrant violation and disregard of its relevant resolutions."
    It "calls upon all member states immediately to enforce the measures that were put in place by resolution 1718," passed after North Korea's 2006 nuclear test. Those sanctions, which included a limited trade and arms embargo, were widely ignored and left not enforced.
    It also orders Pyongyang to refrain from any new nuclear tests and return to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which it withdrew from in 2003, and calls for early resumption of the stalled six-nation aid-for-disarmament talks.
    Western diplomats said Russia and China have agreed in principle that North Korea should be sanctioned for its nuclear test, but it was not clear what kind of penalties they would support. Both are generally reluctant to approve sanctions.
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