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North Korea¡¯s three missile tests since May 25 were clearly conducted with South Korea rather than Japan in mind, Japan¡¯s Yomiuri Shimbun said Saturday. The North test-fired short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea and West Sea on May 25, June 7 and June 27. Quoting several Japanese government sources, the Yomiuri said the missiles seemed to be KN02, an improved version of the old Soviet SS21 short-range missile. The daily said their range was 120 km and they therefore posed no direct threat to Japan.
U.S. defense official Richard Lawless on Friday also said South Korea is the sole target of North Korean missiles, and Washington is actively discussing the issue with Seoul. Lawless told Japanese reporters North Korea¡¯s missile launches were successful and the new missile is more mobile and accurate than the Scud missiles already targeting South Korea. The official¡¯s remarks confirmed U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Burwell Bell¡¯s view on June 2 that North Korea has developed the missiles to attack South Korea.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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