SEOUL, March 7 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is believed to have set no-fly and no-sail zones off its east and west coasts in a possible move to fire off short-range missiles later this month, a senior military official said Thursday.
The North has banned flights and fishing near its coasts for two-weeks during the period when South Korea and the U.S. will carry out war games as part of their annual drills, sparking speculations over the country's intentions.
"Considering North Korea's no-fly and no-sail zones in the East Sea and Yellow Sea, it may fire off short-range missiles," the official said, asking for anonymity, as he is not allowed to talk about military information. "The launch is likely to happen within this month."
Pyongyang is believed to have more than 1,000 missiles -- most of which are able to strike South Korea -- and some are capable of hitting select Japanese and U.S. military bases. Among them, short-range missiles, such as KN-02 with a 120 kilometer range, falls within the no-fly, no-sail zone.
The communist country is believed to have tested the short-range missile about 10 times since 2005, with the latest test conducted two days ahead of the North's Feb. 12 nuclear test off its eastern coast.
Seoul's defense ministry saw a slim chance of the North test firing its newest missile, called KN-08, which was first shown during a military parade in Pyongyang in April 2012.
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North Korea's ballistic missile, called KN-08, was first shown during a military parade in Pyongyang in April 2012. (Yonhap file photo) |
"KN-08's missile range is estimated to be very long," defense ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said in a briefing, without giving details of the range. "As it is believed to have the longest range among North Korea's missiles, it would fly much farther than the no-fly and no-sail zones set by the North."
Experts have paid keen attention to the latest missile, believed to be designed as an intercontinental ballistic missile class to target the U.S. Many believe KN-08 is not ready for deployment, and the one shown in the parade is a "mock-up", citing no separation lines between the warhead and the rocket's last stage, visible loose bolts and misaligned lines on the missile.
South Korean and U.S. forces have been keeping close tabs on North Korea's military, as it is currently carrying out various kinds of ground, maritime and aerial drills, spokesman Kim said.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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