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N. Korea preparing to fire missiles from west coast: source
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- North Korea continues to show signs of preparations for short-range missile launches from its west coast after firing five from its east coast and testing a nuclear device, a South Korean source said Wednesday.
The source, who spoke strictly on condition of anonymity, could not confirm whether North Korea extended its May 25-27 ban on ships from the waters off its western shore.
North Korea detonated a nuclear device on Monday and has since fired five short-range missiles off its east coast. South Korean officials said Tuesday North Korea also appeared to be moving to launch rockets in the west.
"Signs continue to be seen that launches will take place in the west," the defense source said.
Tension spiked in the Yellow Sea Wednesday after North Korea said it will no longer guarantee the safe navigation of South Korean and U.S. naval vessels there.
The threat came a day after South Korea announced its full participation in a U.S.-led anti-proliferation campaign in apparent response to the second nuclear test by North Korea.
Pyongyang conducted its first underground atomic test in October 2006.
"Various scenarios concerning North Korean missiles are being analyzed by the South Korean military," the source said. Others said anti-ship missiles may be among those being prepared on the west.
North Korea coupled its first nuclear test with firings of seven missiles, including a long-range one that fizzled shortly after takeoff.
On April 5 this year, the communist country launched a rocket that the U.S. and its allies fear could be converted into a ballistic missile capable of reaching Alaska and Hawaii.
The North said it put a scientific satellite into orbit with the launch, while its neighbors said nothing entered space.
Relations between the Koreas deteriorated over the past year after President Lee Myung-bak took office in Seoul with a tougher stance on Pyongyang.
Lee has tied cross-border reconciliation to North Korean efforts to denuclearize, while the communist state has called him a traitor and vowed retaliation.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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