North places first stage of missile on launchpad
Published: 03 Dec. 2012, 21:06
A truck carrying a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile is loaded onto a Japanese transport vessel yesterday. Japan deployed the missile interceptors in Okinawa Prefecture to prepare for North Korea’s planned launch. [REUTERS/YONHAP]
“It looks like North Korea already installed the first stage onto the launchpad on Saturday,” the source confirmed yesterday. “The move is seen as the first step in the process of launching a long-range missile.”
According to the source, the regime is expected to add the second and third stages, conduct an overall inspection, and then inject fuel before a final countdown.
The South Korean government expects the installation of the second and third stages to take three or four days, and a launch could be possible after a week.
A file photo of North Korea’s Unha-3 rocket at the Tongchang-ri launch pad in North Pyongan Province on April 8. [AP/YONHAP]
Other countries, including South Korea and the United States, suspect the regime is testing its intercontinental ballistic missile capability.
The planned launch will be the second this year following a failed attempt in April. That launch was part of celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of founder Kim Il Sung.
South Korean military sources suspect the second attempt could be to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of former leader Kim Jong-il, which falls on Dec. 17.
The South Korean presidential election will be held Dec. 19. Japan will also hold a general election on Dec. 16.
Another government source told the JoongAng Ilbo that North Korea invited Iranian technicians several months back “to share technology on the overall rocket control system.”
“We were able to confirm that since the summer, several Iranian rocket experts have been residing in North Korea to share the latest technology,” the source said.
South Korea and the United States have stepped up their surveillance activities by deploying satellites and spy planes to monitor the Tongchang-ri launch site.
“South Korean and U.S. forces have jointly prepared military readiness to thoroughly monitor all activities related to North Korea’s long-range rocket launch,” said Kim Min-seok, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, yesterday.
The South Korean military also detected signs of preparations for live artillery drills at the North’s bases near the western sea border, according to military officials.
South Korea has beefed up its diplomatic efforts to restrain the North from launching the long-range missile.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade called in four ambassadors and discussed measures to cope with the North’s planned launch.
The Chinese ambassador to Seoul, Zhang Xinsen, met with Lim Sung-nam, Seoul’s chief nuclear envoy. After the meeting, Zhang said, “Both countries exchanged in-depth opinions on the [area of] common interest [missile launch].”
Lim also met with Japanese Ambassador Koro Bessho and Russian Ambassador Konstantin Vnukov.
U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Sung Kim also met with the first vice foreign minister, Ahn Ho-young.
Lim, who visited Beijing last week, will head to Washington today to meet with his counterpart, Glyn Davies, and discuss “how to get North Korea to drop its launch.”
By Lee Eun-joo [angie@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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