Japan warns over N Korea missile launch

Tokyo, Aug 1: Japan, stunned by North Korea's multiple missile launch last month, said today it believed the reclusive communist state had developed ballistic missiles capable of ''pinpoint'' attacks on targets in Japan.

In an annual defence white paper issued today, Japan's defence ministry also urged China to disclose military data to allay neighbours' fears about Beijing's defence buildup.

North Korea has drawn harsh international condemnation for test-launching seven missiles on July five, including its long-range Taepodong-2 missiles, which experts said could potentially hit parts of US territory.

Saying North Korea apparently deployed medium-range Rodong ballistic missiles that could put all of Japan within their range of about 1,300 km the white paper added: ''It is thought that their precision is so high that they can carry out pinpoint attacks on specific facilities.'' North Korea shocked the world in 1998 when it fired a missile that passed over Japan and experts believes it has up to 200 Rodong missiles that could reach most of the country, including Tokyo.

''North Korea's development, deployment and proliferation of ballistic missiles, coupled with nuclear issues, have become destabilising factors not only in the Asia-Pacific region but in the entire world, and we are gravely concerned about it,'' the annual report said.

Some materials used to make North Korean missiles were believed to have come from unspecified third countries, while missiles and missile-related technologies were thought to have been sold to countries such as Iran and Pakistan, it said.

Alarm bells

The United States has said Iranian officials attended last month's North Korean missile tests, heightening US concerns about ties between Pyongyang and Tehran.

The annual report also rang alarm bells over North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

''Considering a series of North Korean actions, we cannot rule out the possibility of North Korea's nuclear programmes having already made considerable advancement,'' it said.

Washington believes North Korea has one or two nuclear bombs and the ability to build more.

Experts say North Korea has enough fissile material to make at least six to eight nuclear bombs, but lacks the ability to miniaturise a weapon to fit on a missile.

Six-party talks involving the two Koreas, the United States, Japan, China and Russia stalled last November after Pyongyang objected to US financial sanctions based on accusations that it counterfeited dollars and trafficked drugs.

Reuters