NKorea Test-Fires Four Ballistic Missiles

Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 1:30 pm

SEOUL: North Korea fired four missiles off its eastern coast Saturday, South Korea said, in what was likely to be seen as a message of defiance to the United States on its Independence Day holiday.
NKorea Test Fires Four Ballistic Missiles
The launches, which came two days after North Korea fired four short-range missiles, could further escalate tensions in the region as the U.S. tries to muster support for tough enforcement of the U.N. resolution imposed on the communist regime for its May nuclear test.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were fired Saturday morning, but declined to elaborate on the type. Two missiles were launched early Saturday and the third later in the morning, it said.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency quoted military officials as saying the missiles appeared to be a type of Scud missile. North Korea’s Scuds are considered short-range, South Korea’s military said.

A senior presidential official said the missiles fired are believed to have a range of less than 300 miles (500 kilometers).

Developments in North Korea’s missile program:

— Aug. 31, 1998: North Korea fires suspected missile over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean, calling it a satellite.

— Sept. 13, 1999: North Korea pledges to freeze long-range missile tests.

— March 10, 2003: North Korea fires a land-to-ship missile off east coast into waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan.

— October 2003: North Korea fires two land-to-ship missiles.

— May 2005: North Korea fires a short-range missile into waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan.

— March 8, 2006: North Korea fires two short-range missiles.

— July 5, 2006: North Korea launches seven missiles into waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan, including a long-range Taepodong-2.

— July 15, 2006: U.N. Security Council adopts Resolution 1695 demanding North Korea halt missile program.

— Oct. 9, 2006: North Korea conducts underground nuclear test blast after citing “extreme threat of a nuclear war” from U.S.

— Oct. 15, 2006: U.N. Security Council adopts Resolution 1718 condemning test, imposing sanctions and banning North Korea from activities related to its nuclear weapons program, including “their means of delivery.”

— July 14, 2007: North Korea shuts down its main Yongbyon reactor, later starts disabling it.

— Sept. 19, 2008: North Korea says it is restoring a key atomic reactor.

— Oct. 11, 2008: U.S. removes North Korea from a list of states that sponsor terrorism.

— April 5, 2009: North Korea launches long-range rocket.

— April 13: The U.N. Security Council adopts a presidential statement condemning North Korea’s rocket launch.

— April 14: North Korea quits six-party nuclear talks and vows to restart its nuclear facilities in protest against the U.N. statement.

— May 25: North Korea conducts its second nuclear test.

— June 12: The U.N. Security Council adopts Resolution 1874 sanctioning North Korea for its nuclear test.

— June 18: Japanese newspaper reports North Korea may fire a long-range missile toward Hawaii in early July. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he has positioned more missile defenses around Hawaii.

— Mid-June: North Korea announces a no-sail zone off its east coast from June 25 to July 10 for military drills.

— July 2: North Korea test-fires four short-range missiles.

— July 4: North Korea fires three missiles, believed to be short-range.