North Korea is reportedly moving closer to launching another long-range missile, despite international concern. South Korean media say the North has moved its most advanced missile to a new launch site on the west coast.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said there were signs of work being done on a long-range missile, but he said the North's intentions were not yet clear. A regional summit has convened in South Korea to discuss the North's recent nuclear and missile tests.
After the opening day of the summit, the leaders there agreed that North Korea's recent nuclear test was a "provocation" which "seriously undermines peace and stability in north-east Asia and the world," according to South Korea's presidential office.
On May 27th, North Korea anounced it is abandoning the truce that ended the Korean war, amid rising tension in the region. It blamed its decision on South Korea joining a US-led initiative to search ships for nuclear weapons.
It said the South's actions were a "declaration of war", and pledged to attack if its ships were stopped. The move is part of an increasingly hard line being taken by North Korea, and came two days after it conducted an underground nuclear test.
Last month news media from South Korea reported steam coming from a plant at the North's main nuclear facility, a sign that it has made good on its threat to restart efforts to make weapons-grade plutonium. The United Nations Security Council is working on a strong resolution condemning North Korea's actions, including possible punitive measures.
On Tuesday North Korea test-fired two more missiles, hours after the UN Security Council unanimously condemned its nuclear test, South Korean reports say. The Communist state fired two short-range missiles off an east-coast base, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing an official. At least three missile tests accompanied Monday's nuclear test.
Late on Monday President Barack Obama spoke to the leaders of both Japan and South Korea to assure them of America's commitment to security in north-east Asia. The conversations followed an emergency session of the UN Security Council, where members voiced strong opposition to the test and condemned it. Russia's UN envoy told reporters the nuclear test was a clear violation of UN Resolution 1718. That resolution imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test, in October 2006.
President Barack Obama described the North Korean action as a threat to international peace.
Radio coverage:
The World's Jeb Sharp looks back at some key moments in the formation of North Korea's nuclear program. It became visible to the world in the 1980s, but its origins go back to the 1950s and the politics of the Cold War. (May 26)
The World's Matthew Bell looks at North Korea's motivation behind the second nuclear test. (May 25)
Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with The World's Matthew Bell about North Korea's rocket launch. (April 6)
North Korea's 'satellite' launch
In April North Korea walked out on international talks to end its nuclear program, and said it would restore its disabled nuclear reactor. The unusually strong statement followed criticism by the UN Security Council of a recent rocket launch, which critics say was a long-range missile test. North Korea said the launch in April was part of a peaceful space program, designed to put a satellite into orbit. China and Russia have appealed for the North to return to negotiations.
Pyongyang also ordered UN nuclear inspectors to leave the country and told the International Atomic Energy Agency to remove seals and equipment from the Yongbyon reactor and said that it would reactivate all its nuclear facilities, the watchdog said.
Pyongyang said it launched a satellite on April 5 but its neighbors say it was testing missile technology. The U.S., South Korea and Japan have all condemned the launch from the Musudan-ri base in the north-east of the communist country. They say it violates a UN Security Council resolution adopted in October 2006 which bans North Korea from carrying out ballistic missile activity. Susan Rice, the American envoy to the UN, called Pyongyang's move a "clear-cut violation of [resolution] 1718", while her Japanese counterpart said Tokyo was seeking a "clear, firm and unified" response.
Undated North Korean missile test
North Korean state media said that leader Kim Jong-il had visited the General Satellite Control and Command Center to observe the launch. It said a communications satellite had been successfully placed in orbit and was transmitting data. But the U.S. military said that the rocket's payload, along with its booster stages, landed in the Pacific Ocean.
When North Korea tested its Taepodong-1 missile in 1998, it claimed to have put a satellite in orbit. In July 2006 it test-fired the three-stage long-range Taepodong-2, but the missile failed shortly after launch. North Korea's move comes amid heightened tensions with South Korea, and with Pyongyang pushing for a top spot on the agenda of the new U.S. administration.
North Korea's nukes
2002: N Korea pulls out of previous deal after US accuses it of having secret uranium program
October 2006: North Korea carries out its first test of a nuclear weapon
February 2007: North Korea agrees to end nuclear activities in return for aid
July 2007: North Korea closes its Yongbyon nuclear reactor and allows IAEA inspectors in
December 2007: North Korea misses a deadline to hand over a declaration of its nuclear work
June 2008: North Korea submits overdue nuclear dossier
Sep 2008: North Korea says it's reactivating Yongbyon
Oct 2008: Pyongyang restores access to Yongbyon after N. Korea is taken off the U.S. list of terrorism sponsors.
Apr 2009: Pyongyang vows to abandon nuclear talks and restart Yongbyon reactor after UN condems North Korean rocket launch.
May 2009: North Korea carries out a second test of a nuclear weapon and test-fires more missiles
Previous nuclear disarmament
American nuclear inspector in N Korea
In February 2007, North Korea agreed to disable its plutonium-producing reactor at Yongbyon and disclose its nuclear activities in return for fuel aid but progress in implementing this deal has been plagued by delays, and the dispute over verification is the latest hold-up.
In October 2008, the Washington finally removed North Korea from a terrorism blacklist, and in return Pyongyang agreed to provide full access to its nuclear program. The two sides now differ on the terms of verification that were agreed as part of the deal. North Korea insists it never said samples of atomic material could be taken away for examination, but the U.S. asserts that the North did consent to the procedure.
Yongbyon cooling tower in Feb 2008
For years, the North has been locked in discussions over its nuclear ambitions with five other nations - the U.S., South Korea, China, Russia, and Japan. In June 2008 the regime blew up the cooling tower of its Yongbyon facility in a symbolic gesture of its commitment to the process.
Also in June 2008 North Korea handed over a long-awaited account of its nuclear program to China. President George W Bush cautiously welcomed the move at the time but said the U.S. still had "serious concerns" about Pyongyang. North Korea had previoulsy blamed the deadlocked nuclear talks on the U.S., accusing it of raising "unjust demands".
North Korea successfully tested a nuclear device on October 9th, 2006, and analysts believe it may have any a number of atomic bombs ranging from one to eight or more. However, it is not believed that the country has yet succeeded in building a nuclear weapon that could be fitted on to a missile. North Korean missiles
Despite the nuclear agreement Pyongyang tested another ballistic missile in June 2007. The White House said it was "deeply troubled" by the move, which happened at a "delicate time" in international negotiations over North Korea's nuclear decommissioning.
In May 2007 North Korea conducted a series of missile test after previously having test-fired missiles in July 2006. World powers have condemned the North Korean tests - the test in 2006 is believed to have included a long-range Taepodong-2, but according to U.S. assessments at the time, that missile failed shortly after take-off.
North Korea's nuclear weapons program along with its missile development, has been a major source of concern in the region. North Korea is estimated to have more than 800 ballistic missiles. The communist regime first obtained tactical missiles from the Soviet Union, as early as 1969, but its first Scuds reportedly came via Egypt in 1976.
These are the key weapons of its missile program:
Taepondong 2
Taepodong-2 (long range)
The Taepodong-2 long-range missile is estimated to have a range of between 3,000 - 3,700 miles (5,000 - 6,000 kilometers), putting Alaska within range. But according to US sources, the first launch of the missile appeared to be a failure, after it crashed within seconds of launch. Even if successfully launched, the missile is not thought to be particularly accurate or to be able to carry a large warhead. It requires a fixed launch site.
Taepodong-1 (intermediate range)
The Taepodong-1 is a two-stage missile comprising Nodong and Scud parts and has a estimated range of 1,300 miles (2,200km). It could reach US bases in Okinawa, Japan. North Korea tested a Taepodong-1 in August 1998, firing a missile over northern Japan. But it is said to be even less accurate than the Nodong (see below) and it must be fired from a fixed location and has a long preparation time. That means potential launches could be detected relatively early on.
Another Taepodong missile, the Taepodong-X, is also said to be under development but has not yet been tested. Based on a Soviet submarine-launched ballistic missile, it is a land-based missile, thought to have a range of up to 2,400 miles (4,000km), able to reach US bases on Guam. Unlike the Taepodong-1, it could be fired from mobile launch systems hidden from view.
Nodong Missile (medium range)
North Korean test launch
The Nodong missile is thought to have a range of around 600 miles (1,000km) and could potentially carry a nuclear warhead. But it too is not very accurate. The Nodong could strike most of Japan but not with any accuracy. If it were fired on a military target, its inaccuracy could lead to high levels of civilian casualties. The missile was test fired in May 1993.
Short Range Missiles
North Korea has a variety of short-range missiles. The KN-02 is thought to be the most accurate, but its range - around 60 miles - is the shortest. The Scud-B and C have ranges of 200 and 300 miles respectively, while the Scud-D is believed to have a range of over 400 miles. It is thought that these missiles could deliver conventional warheads. The Scud-B, C and D have all been tested and deployed. These missiles would enable North Korea to strike any area in South Korea. The KN-02 missile, currently in the testing stage, could be aimed at key targets in South Korea such as military installations south of the border.
Musudan-ri launch site
Musudan-ri is the main launch site in the country's North Hamgyong province, on the country's northeastern coast. The area was formerly known as Taepodong, which gave the Taepodong rockets their name. Since 1984 Hwasong, Nodong and Taepodong rockets have been launched from the site. The facilities at Musudan-ri are reported to be modest, consisting of a launch pad, an engine test stand, a missile assembly building, and a missile control center. In 1998, North Korean media reported the successful launch of a satellite by a Taepodong rocket from Musudan-ri. North Korea says the satellite successfully reached orbit, but no independent sources have confirmed this.
