Japan warns N Korea on possible missile test

TOKYO, June 18 (Reuters) Japan today warned North Korea of ''a harsh response'' from Tokyo and Washington if it went ahead with the launch of a long-range missile.

Amid reports that a launch was imminent, a Japanese official quoted by the Sankei Shimbun daily said North Korea's leadership had told people to raise the flag at 1030 hrs IST (0500 GMT) and monitor television for a ''message to the people''.

The time came and went without any reports of a missile test.

Japan's Jiji Press news agency reported that Japanese Defence Agency officials had concluded that a launch was not imminent, but that monitoring would continue.

A South Korean government official had cautioned against reading too much into Pyongyang's instructions to its people.

The official, quoted by Yonhap news agency, noted tomorrow marked the 42nd anniversary of the start of leader Kim Jong-il's career at the central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and that people were urged to watch TV on June 18 last year.

The Korea Central News Agency later issued a statement noting the anniversary, but also lambasting the United States and Japan for their bellicose attitude towards North Korea.

''The Korean army and people will do their best to increase the military deterrent with sharp vigilance to cope with the moves of the U.S., which is hell-bent on provocations for war of aggression on the DPRK,'' it said without mentioning a missile.

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