North Korean missile displayed at War Memorial Museum, Seoul, Korea[Photo by Namkung Jin-woong = timeid@]
South Korea's defence ministry said Thursday that it is ready to intercept and shoot down a North Korean rocket or its debris with Patriot missiles if it strays into its territory.
The ministry said US and South Korean troops have put their surveillance assets on standby since Pyongyang told UN agencies that it would launch a long-range rocket sometime between February 8 and 25 to put a satellite into orbit.
"Our air defense operation readiness has been bolstered to intercept any missiles or their debris if they stray into our territory," ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun told reporters.
There are doubts about South Korea's ability to intercept a long-range rocket, but Moon said US-made Patriot surface-to-air missiles are on standby to shoot down a stray missile if possible.
Reports said Japan is also ready to intercept any North Korean missile entering its territory.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye said the North's launch should never be condoned, describing it as a "desperate" move to maintain the regime and show that it's not afraid of sanctions to be discussed by the UN Security Council.
Recent satellite imagery revealed progress in preparations for North Korea's rocket launch, supporting its announced launch window, according to 38 North, the website of a US research institute.
Increased activity has been detected at the horizontal processing building at North Korea's Sohae launch site where the nuclear-armed country claimed to have launched satellites into space, 38 North said.
During past launches, various rocket stages were assembled in the horizontal position at the building to test all connections, perform final testing of subsystems and prepare the stages for mounting on the launch pad, it said.
On February 1, there were nine vehicles present around the building, compared with only one on January 25, 38 North said.
"This level of activity is similar to that seen prior to the previous launch in 2012 and is suggestive of launch preparations," it said, adding there were no significant changes at the launch pad and other facilities.
North Korea says its rocket launches are for peaceful use, but the United States and its allies consider them a cover for developing an intercontinental ballistic missile that can deliver a nuclear bomb.
North Korea claimed in December 2012 that it successfully launched a long-range rocket to put a satellite into orbit.
The 2012 launch sparked concern about North Korea's ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead to mount on a missile. Concern about North Korean missiles grew in South Korea last year when Pyongyang said it had successfully conducted a rare test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile.
North Korea's nuclear and missile programs have invited international condemnation and sanctions. But the North has continued to upgrade its launch site with an extended launchpad for a bigger, multi-stage missile.
아주경제 임장원 기자 = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
