North Korea

North Korea promises retaliation if Japan intercepts satellite

Article published on the 2009-04-02 Latest update 2009-04-02 15:44 TU

North Korea's plans were protested in Seoul on 2 April 2009.
(Photo: Reuters)

North Korea's military threatened Thursday to attack "major targets" in Japan if Tokyo tries to shoot down a satellite it plans to launch as early as this weekend. There is an international alert over North Korea's alleged plans to launch a rocket.

"If Japan recklessly 'intercepts' the DPRK's (North's) satellite for
peaceful purposes, the [Korean People's Army] will mercilessly deal deadly blows not only at the already deployed intercepting means but at major targets," said a statement from the KPA.

Japan had no immediate response to the statement but said its plans for any intercept are limited.

US President Barack Obama and his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-Bak will call for a "stern, unified" international response if North Korea launches a test rocket, a South Korean offical said.

"The presidents said the international community needs to take stern, unified action against North Korea if the North fires a long-range rocket," the official told the news agency AFP on condition of anonymity.

The United States, Japan, and South Korea say the rocket is a pretext for testing North Korea's intercontinental missile, the Taepodong-2.

Washington has warned that it will seek United Nations action if the launch goes ahead.

Obama praised South Korea as one of America's closest allies. He and Lee met on the sideline of the G20 summit in London.