N Korea test-fires two missiles

2006-07-04 22:41

Washington - North Korea has test-fired two missiles, but not a long-range Taepodong 2 missile which the United States and Japan had feared it might launch, US television reported on Tuesday.

The CNN network, citing two sources, said North Korea had launched two missiles and that it was not clear where the missiles were headed.

The network said it was also not clear if the missiles had a target.

In a separate report, ABC News also said North Korea had test-fired two missiles.

"We are not aware of the report, but we obviously will look into this," said Pentagon spokesperson Eric Ruff.

CNN said the missiles were smaller than the Taepodong 2 missile which the US and other nations feared North Korea had been on the verge of test-firing.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said last Thursday that he and US President George W Bush had agreed to impose unspecified "pressures" on North Korea if it launched a long-range missile.

The US had been monitoring a potential launch of a Taepodong 2 missile and Bush criticised North Korea last Thursday - during a meeting with Koizumi - saying that Pyongyang had failed to tell the world of its missile intentions.

Japan is particularly sensitive to such moves by North Korea, which in 1998 fired a Taepodong-1 missile over Japan into the Pacific, prompting Tokyo and Washington to step up co-operation to build missile defences.

- AFP