Missile buzz & local response

1. GNP lawmaker Chung Hyung-keun argued he heard from a high-ranking government official that the number of missiles was actually 12. He talked to reporters that a Scud missile seemed to target South Korea while Taepodong 2 was aimed at targeting the US and Nodong 1 and 2 targeting Japan. “This missile launch will postpone inter Korean talks slated to be held on July 11 and the government is said to overhaul its North Korea assistance policies,” he added.

2. According to news that has been known so far, Taepodong 2 disappeared from military radar only 40 seconds after the launch. The Korean military assumes the missile exploded in the sky or it just fell into the sea because a propellant on top of the missile failed to separate.

3. Some pro-North groups argue that the North missile test fire is the natural consequences of the US and Japan’s own deeds and provides the two Koreas with an opportunity to concrete people’s proud and cohesion. They said in a joint statement, “regardless of whether it is a missile or satellite, it is North Korea’s own rights and self-protecting response to US, Japan and South Korea’s hostile policies towards it, so it is not the business of international community.”

4. Despite the missile launch, South Korea’s civic groups say they will continue their financial assistance to the North and inter-Korean cultural exchanges on the humanitarian grounds. An official from the Ministry of Unification said “the government has not intervened in civic group’s North Korean assistance activities, and it is their discretion whether it will continue giving assistance to Pyongyang.” “The government stance has not been determined yet on that matter, but even if it is decided, civic groups will make independent moves irrespective of policy lines of the government.”

Meanwhile conservative groups issued a statement strongly condemning North Korea and argued an overhaul of government policy toward North Korea. They said “North Korea’s test firing missiles drives North East Asia to the extreme nervous situation,” and “the government’s policy which has been mainly based on tolerance and concession should be completely changed.” “It accounts to peace-breaking behavior on the Korean peninsula and provocative moves to international society, so the government should completely revise its North Korean policy unless Pyongyang extends a sincere apology and promise not to do that again.”