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North Korean missile launch draws U.S. criticism

By Kim Yeon-hee Thu Jun 7, 2:09 PM ET

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea fired up to two short-range missiles off its west coast on Thursday, said U.S. and South Korean officials, prompting quick U.S. criticism of Pyongyang over the second such launch in as many weeks.

The launch occurred a day after U.S. President George W. Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed at a bilateral meeting there were limits to their patience with Pyongyang's failure to honor a nuclear disarmament agreement.

"What I have been advised is that it (was) a cruise missile test," White House National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley told reporters. "We saw I think in the last week or 10 days a similar test."

A South Korean Defence Ministry official confirmed reclusive communist North Korea had fired at least one missile but could not specify the exact number or type.

White House National Security spokesman Gordon Johndroe said North Korea's missile test activity was "not constructive" and Pyongyang should focus on dismantling its nuclear program.

"The United States and our allies believe that North Korea should refrain from testing missiles," Johndroe said in a statement to reporters on the sidelines of a Group of Eight (G8) summit in Heiligendamm, Germany.

BARRAGE

North Korea fired a barrage of long and short range missiles last year, triggering United Nations sanctions. It drew more punitive measures with its first nuclear test in October.

Military experts have voiced concern about North Korea's firing of long-range missiles, which could carry a nuclear warhead to Alaska or possibly other parts of the United States.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged fellow G8 leaders to keep up the pressure on North Korea over its nuclear program, Japanese officials said on Thursday.

"We cannot allow the development of nuclear weapons by North Korea," one official quoted Abe as saying at the opening of a working lunch. The officials said several other leaders expressed agreement.

Pyongyang has refused to implement a February 13 deal with South Korea, the United States, Russia, China and Japan under which it agreed to begin shutting down its nuclear program in return for energy aid.

"North Korea has conducted similar tests in the past," said Major Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman. "We have consistently pointed out that North Korea's missile program is a concern that poses a potential threat to the region."

In late May, North Korea fired a short-range surface-to-ship missile off its east coast. Both South Korean and U.S. officials dismissed the launch as part of regular military drills.

"They do this all the time," said John Pike, director of the online think-tank GlobalSecurity.org.

"They have a medium-size inventory of anti-shipping cruise missiles. Any self-respecting second rate military would."

Pike said he believed the North Korean inventory of anti-shipping cruise missiles could be in the hundreds.

"They have to test fire them just to reassure themselves that if they actually had to use them in the real thing, that they would work and that the crews would know how to make them work," he said.

North Korean missile launch draws U.S. criticism (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070607/ts_nm/korea_north_missiles_dc;_ylt=AndoH6QdDGzpnE2Jyrh.Yl6s0NUE)