Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
My Profile
Top News
Reuters top ten news stories delivered to your inbox each day.
Subscribe
You are here:
Home
>
News
>
International
>
Article
Home
Business & Finance
News
U.S.
Politics
International
Technology
Entertainment
Sports
Lifestyle
Oddly Enough
Environment
Health
Science
Special Coverage
Video
Pictures
Your View
The Great Debate
Blogs
Weather
Reader Feedback
Do More With Reuters
RSS
Widgets
Mobile
Podcasts
Newsletters
Your View
Make Reuters My Homepage
Partner Services
CareerBuilder
Affiliate Network
Professional Products
Support (Customer Zone)
Reuters Media
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Japan to ready defense against North Korea rocket: Kyodo
Wed Mar 18, 2009 2:30am EDT
Email | Print |
Share
| Reprints | Single Page
[-]
Text
[+]
By Jack Kim
SEOUL (Reuters) - Japan will clear the way for the deployment of ballistic missile interceptors as it prepares for the possibility a North Korean rocket could fall onto its territory, Kyodo news agency reported on Wednesday.
North Korea has said it intends to launch a satellite between April 4 and 8, presenting a challenge to U.S. President Barack Obama and allies in Asia who see the plan as a disguised long-range missile test.
The plan has alarmed the region and prompted some airlines to say they will alter flight routes during the test period. The reclusive state stunned Tokyo with the launch of a rocket in 1998 that flew over Japan before dropping into the Pacific Ocean.
Japanese law allows the shooting down of dangerous objects falling toward the country, excluding aircraft. The cabinet plans to approve preparatory steps to destroy the rocket if it falls onto Japanese territory, Kyodo said, citing government sources.
North Korea has said it is putting a communications satellite into orbit, and has the right to do so under its space program. It has said the first stage of the rocket would splash down in the Sea of Japan, while the second would land in the Pacific.
Japanese cabinet approval, which may come by the end of March, would clear the way for the deployment of ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors, Kyodo said.
Cabinet approval is required in Japan, where military activity is strictly limited under its pacifist constitution. A defense ministry spokesman declined to comment.
Japan is also considering deploying two high-tech Aegis-equipped destroyers carrying Standard Missile-3 ballistic missile interceptors, Kyodo added.
The United States, South Korea and Japan have said they see no difference between a satellite launch and a missile test because they use the same rocket, the North's Taepodong-2 with a range that could take it to Alaska.
The only time the North tested the Taepodong-2 in 2006, it blew apart a few seconds after being fired. Analysts said the North appears to have made technological advances to fix flight problems and is confident of a successful launch.
But analysts do not expect the United States to intercept the rocket because the launch poses no major security threat while destroying it would infuriate Pyongyang. The North has said it would consider any interception an act of war.
TENSIONS OVER FACTORY
Tensions have also festered between North and South Korea over a joint factory park in the North, which has blocked entry to the facility in recent days.
South Korea warned it would respond with decisive action if Pyongyang again blocked access to the factory, but said it was too early to consider shutting the project.
In the past week, the North has blocked movement across the heavily defended border to an industrial park run by South Korean firms in the city of Kaesong out of anger over joint military drills by South Korean and U.S. troops. Continued...
View article on single page
Share:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Mixx
Yahoo!
Facebook
LinkedIn
Next Article:
Japan to ready defence against N.Korea rocket-Kyodo
also on reuters
Blog: What has the average value investor been buying?
Investors to Starbucks: Show me the savings
Video
Video: Bear Stearns: House of Cards
More International News
Opposition leader takes power in Madagascar
| Video
S.Korea warns of action if North blocks border again
U.N. official says U.S. "demonizes" Iranian leader
Case packed with TNT found in Tibet capital: report
Pope in Africa reaffirms "no condoms" against AIDS
| Video
More International News...
Editor's Choice
Slideshow
A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow
Most Popular on Reuters
Articles
Video
U.S. to claw back AIG bonuses, lawmakers eye tax | Video
U.S. capital struggles to contain HIV epidemic
China's last eunuch spills sex secrets
U.S. turns up heat on Madoff clan, wants assets
WRAPUP 4-U.S. Congress eyes AIG bonus tax, CEO to testify
Owners skulking away from "underwater" U.S. homes
Chuck Norris sues, says his tears no cancer cure
U.S. weighs expanded covert war in Pakistan: report
Goldman's share of AIG bailout money draws fire
"Family Guy" wins court battle over song
Most Popular Articles RSS Feed
Video
Global recession hits moon sales
Space Shuttle docks
Natasha Richardson injured
China's olympic stadium at risk
Congress on AIG bonuses
Deadly ebola scare
Pope's anti condom AIDS stance
Japan robots hit catwalk
The weight of AIG
Washington welcomes Ireland
Most Popular Videos RSS Feed
Reuters Deals
The global destination for corporate leaders, deal-makers and innovators
Knowledge to Act
Reuters.com:
Help and Contact Us |
Advertise With Us |
Mobile |
Newsletters |
RSS |
Interactive TV |
Labs |
Reuters in Second Life |
Archive |
Site Index |
Video Index
Thomson Reuters Corporate:
Copyright |
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Professional Products |
Professional Products Support |
About Thomson Reuters |
Careers
International Editions:
Africa |
Arabic |
Argentina |
Brazil |
Canada |
China |
France |
Germany |
India |
Italy |
Japan |
Latin America |
Mexico |
Russia |
Spain |
United Kingdom |
United States
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.