Australia slams 'provocative' NKorea missile tests

3 Jul 2009, 2:22 pm   -   Source: SBS staff with agencies
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North Korea must stop testing missiles, with the country's provocative actions only serving to isolate it further, Defence Minister John Faulkner says.

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North Korea must stop testing missiles, with the country's provocative actions only serving to isolate it further, Defence Minister John Faulkner says.

North Korea test-fired four short-range missiles, according to South Korean military officials, further fuelling tension sparked by its nuclear standoff with the international community.
  
The missiles -- apparently surface-to-ship ones -- were fired into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) between 5:20 pm (0820 GMT) and 9:20 pm, defence ministry officials were quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency.

The United States and Japan also blasted the launches as provocative, but South Korean defence ministry spokesman Won Tae-Jae said the North appeared to be trying to make a point to its neighbour.

Senator Faulkner said that the Australian government was very concerned by its actions.

"The Australian government urges the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) to immediately desist from provocative acts and threats, which we say only have the impact of isolating North Korea further," Mr Faulkner told reporters in Sydney.

"The Australian government has been very clear that we believe North Korea must return to its obligations under the UN resolutions, it must comply with those resolutions and of course its commitments under the six party talks."

Senator Faulkner said the UN had sent a clear message through financial sanctions and an extended arms embargo.

"It's very clear that the international community finds North Korea's actions unacceptable."

NKorea 'beginning to feel effect of santions'

In Washington, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the North Koreans were expected to continue their "provocative actions."

But Gibbs said the country was beginning to feel the effect of the sanctions, which call for strengthened inspections of air, sea and land shipments and an expanded arms embargo.

"It is clear sanctions are having an impact," Gibbs said, citing cooperation from Russia and China.

He also suggested the North was beginning to respond to the pressure but did not elaborate.

"Obviously, there have been positive developments over the past few days as it relates to the actions of the North Koreans," Gibbs said.

Asked if he was suggesting that the North showed no signs it was preparing to launch another long-range missile, Gibbs replied: "I don't want to get into intelligence matters."

Washington has said it is not ruling out the possibility of a long-range missile launch toward Hawaii on or around July 4, the US Independence Day, although the Pentagon has expressed doubts about such a scenario.

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