National News Pyongyang fires ballistic missiles into Japan Sea

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North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on July 5.

The move drew economic sanctions from Japan and caused more international concern about North Korea's nuclear weapons.

The first six missiles were fired between 3:30 and 8:20 a.m. from bases on North Korea's northeast coast, and landed off Vladivostok in Russia.

These included one believed to be a Taepodong-2 missile, which has a range of 3,500 kilometers to over 6,000 kilometers. This puts it in range of the United States.

The seventh missile was fired at 5:20 p.m. and came down about 10 minutes later.

A Russian report meanwhile said 10 missiles had been seen.

After the first launches, Tokyo put economic sanctions on North Korea. These included a half-year port ban on the ferry Manyongbong-92, which makes regular visits to Japan.

The launches began just six minutes before the Independence Day liftoff of the space shuttle Discovery in the United States

It is believed to be an attempt to bring the United States to the negotiating table for direct talks on financial sanctions that have crippled key North Korean bank accounts in Macau.

But the incident will probably further isolate North Korea, which has ignored repeated warnings from four nations: the United States, Japan, South Korea and China. (The Japan Times)

北朝鮮がミサイル7発発射

北朝鮮は5日、弾道ミサイルを計7発発射した。

Shukan ST: July 14, 2006

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