North Korea, Ready to Fire a Rodong Missile

The Asahi Shimbun reported on Friday that U.S. government authorities stated that North Korea is ready to launch a longer-range “Rodong” missile (range of 1,300 kilometers).

The source, citing data from reconnaissance satellites and radio traffic, concluded that “Rodong” is the possible type of missile to test-fire and stated, “The North is at a state in which they could launch a missile any time they want to, even right now.”

According to the statement made by a related official, North Korea completed all the stages leading up to firing a Rodong missile, and they are in the final stages of confirmation.

The Asahi Shimbun analyzed two possible scenarios behind North Korea’s intentions, either to threaten the international society with the possible missile launch movement, using it in a way that is favorable to North Korea in the nuclear standoff situation, or to actually test-fire the missile.

Accordingly, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki-moon and Secretary of State Colin Powell met in New York on Thursday and urged the North to rescind its nuclear experiments, stating, “It will be unfortunate if the North decides to test-fire a missile.”

However, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan Hiroyuki Hosoda expressed on Friday, “After analyzing various sources, the increase of military power surrounding the area of the missile base station is not to prepare a missile test launch; rather, it is an annual North Korean military exercise.”

During the press conference, Minister Hosoda explained, “There needs to be a lot of preparation to launch a missile, but there have not been any unusual movements detected so far in North Korea.”

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Powell said to Minister Ban that “the issue of Korea’s nuclear-related experiment has a very benign nature,’’ and, “Even though the decision made by the board of directors meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) slated for November is crucial, Korea has not been worried about the issue becoming any more serious.”

Kwon-Heui Hong Won-Jae Park konihong@donga.com parkwj@donga.com