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North Korea warned against missile test

P. S. Suryanarayana

U.S. west coast within Taepodong-2 range

SINGAPORE: Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Monday warned the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) of "stern action" if it were to test-fire a long-range ballistic missile.

Reacting to reports from Washington that North Korea had completed the loading of fuel for test-firing Taepodong-2 ballistic missile, Mr. Koizumi told journalists in Tokyo that Japan would "consult" its key ally, the United States, and other powers to initiate a "stern response" to any such testing by Pyongyang.

"Provocative act"

Japan and even parts of the U.S. west coast are suspected to come under the range of this missile, if its prototype were to be successfully tested now.

The U.S. has already threatened to regard the possible test-firing as a provocative act. And, U.S. President George W. Bush is understood to have urged his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao to exert pressure on Pyongyang to call off its move to test the missile, according to diplomatic sources.

The DPRK has, in the meantime, pledged to enhance its capabilities of "deterrence" against the U.S.

It is in this context that Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Tokyo would regard it as a hostile act if the North Korean missile, or any of its parts, were to fly or fall over Japan or its territorial waters during the test flight. Parts of an earlier version "ballistic missile" that the DPRK had test-fired in 1998 had flown over Japan.

AP reports:

The U.S. ambassador to Japan, Thomas Schieffer, said sanctions were an option. ``I think sanctions would have to be considered, but I wouldn't want to describe what actions we might take,'' Mr. Schieffer said, according to a transcript read over the phone by a U.S. embassy official.

He added that a launch would be ``worthy'' of Security Council discussion and action.

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