|
NKorea Warns It Can Hit U.S. Targets “Anywhere”
 |
|
NKorea
could already be able to attack the west coast of the U.S. with a
nuke missile
|
PYONGYANG,
February 13 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - North Korea has the
ability to strike U.S. targets anywhere in the world if provoked, a
senior foreign ministry official warned Thursday, February 13, and
insisted Pyongyang had a right to self-defense.
"In
case there is a self-defensive measure, the attack can be taken to all
military personnel and all military commands of the United States in
the world," senior foreign ministry official Ri Kwang Hyok told
Agence France-Presse (AFP) in an interview in the North Korean
capital.
"Wherever
they are we can attack them. There's no limit to our attack ability.
The strike force of the Korean People's Army will take on the enemy
wherever he is."
Asked
if that meant North Korea had missiles capable of reaching Washington,
the official replied: "I'm not an expert so I am not sure but we
have long range missiles and our people have the ability of striking
enemies far away."
Defense
analysts say North Korea has long-range Taepodong-2 missiles which
could be capable of reaching parts of the continental United States.
On
Wednesday, CIA chief George Tenet said the North could already have
the capacity to target the U.S. west coast with a nuclear capable
missile.
Asked
in a congressional hearing if he believed that Pyongyang had acquired
nuclear weapons, Tenet answered that "they probably have one or
two plutonium-based devices today," in line with previous CIA
estimates.
But
then, questioned on whether the Stalinist state could deliver such a
weapon to the west coast, Tenet told the Senate Armed Services
committee: "Yes, they could do that."
He
said the Taepodong-2 missile could "target parts of the U.S. with
a nuclear weapon-sized payload in the two-stage configuration, and has
the range to target all of North America if a third stage was
used."
It
is not believed the missile has yet been tested, which could hinder
its reliability and capacity to cross the Pacific Ocean successfully.
However,
one of Japan's leading analysts on North Korean military affairs said
last week the North may test-fire a Taepodong-2 missile this year.
"If
a new missile is test-fired, it means that the U.S. mainland is likely
to be placed within its range," Hideshi Takesada, a professor at
the National Institute for Defense Studies, said.
North
Korea has accused the United States of setting in motion invasion
plans by launching a massive arms build-up, and insists it has a right
to self-defense.
"By
looking at the situation on the Korean peninsula it is obvious that
the U.S. is escalating its war maneuvers as each day goes by,"
said Ri.
"With
all these U.S. threats to our country we have taken full measures to
counter their attack. It would be wrong to say that pre-emptive
attack is a choice that belongs only to the U.S. It is not just the
U.S. that has the right to launch pre-emptive attacks.
"We
can also take some defensive measures because it is our right to take
counter measures as strong as the measures adopted by the U.S."
China
Warns Against UN Involvement
 |
|
Schroeder
expressed surprise at the contradiction in Washington's treatment
of North Korea and Iraq
|
Meanwhile,
China warned Thursday against the UN Security Council's involvement in
the North Korean nuclear crisis, insisting the only solution was
direct dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang.
China's
ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna Zhang Yan cautioned that
pressure and sanctions "may exacerbate the confrontation and
further complicate the issue."
He
said Beijing believed that "the UN Security Council's involvement
at this stage might not necessarily contribute to the settlement of
the issue," the Xinhua news agency reported.
Zhang
asked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United
Nations nuclear watchdog, to "take a cautious and prudent
attitude in addressing this issue and play a constructive role for the
settlement of the DPRK (North Korea) nuclear issue."
The
Chinese communist leadership is seen as one of the few governments
with any sway over the Stalinist state, and has consistently referred
to the crisis as a bilateral dispute.
"The
only correct and effective approach to the solution of the DPRK
nuclear issue is through constructive dialogue and consultations on
the basis of equality, especially the sincere and pragmatic dialogue
directly among the parties concerned," Zhang said.
The
comments follow a declaration by the IAEA that North Korea is in
breach of UN safeguards and its referral of the crisis to the UN
Security Council, which could consider imposing sanctions.
The
IAEA vote is a major setback to the North, which has been holding out
for direct talks with the United States and rejecting moves to
internationalize the crisis.
China
voted in favor of the IAEA resolution, but foreign ministry
spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said in Beijing Thursday this did not mean
China supported the North Korean issue being referred to the Security
Council.
"The
fact that we agreed that the IAEA will report this to the Security
Council does not mean we agree the UN Security Council should get
involved in this dispute right now," she said.
"Besides,
the resolution also stressed the peaceful settlement of this issue in
a diplomatic manner and therefore based on this position China voted
in favor of this resolution."
Zhang
insisted there was no contradiction between its view that the issue
should not be referred to the Council and its support of the
resolution.
She
said the wording of the IAEA resolution says the nuclear inspection
agency will "report" the North Korea nuclear issue to the
Council, but did not say it will "send" the issue to the
Council.
NKorea
Insists U.S. Be Taken to Security Council
Furthering
its defiance, North Korea Thursday insisted the U.S. must also be
investigated by the United Nations Security Council after the UN's
atomic watchdog referred Pyongyang to the body for violating
non-proliferation accords.
"The
U.S. is threatening our country with nuclear weapons so this must also
be discussed in the Security Council," senior foreign ministry
official Ri Kwang Hyok told AFP in an interview in the North Korean
capital.
"We
insist that the responsibility of the U.S. must be discussed
too."
Schroeder
Surprised by U.S. Contradictions
In
a separate related development, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder
expressed surprise Thursday at the difference in Washington's
treatment of North Korea and Iraq.
Schroeder
said that North Korea is "led by a dictator, has nuclear
war-heads and throws out inspectors from the IAEA" International
Atomic Energy Agency, yet they "propose dialogue".
He
said that while Iraq was led by a dictator, it "has no nuclear
weapons and no long-range missiles," even though "there are
signs it could produce them."
Schroeder
reiterated calls for the work of the UN weapons inspectors checking
whether Iraq has weapons of mass destruction to be extended and
reinforced.
"The
inspectors must continue their work," he said in a speech to
parliament.
|
