SFGate: North Korea Mocks International Criticism

North Korea Mocks International Criticism
By JOSEPH COLEMAN, Associated Press Writer

Thursday, July 6, 2006 (AP)

(07-06) 11:47 PDT SEOUL, South Korea (AP) --

North Korea angrily mocked international criticism of its multiple missile
tests, threatening on Thursday to fire off more rockets. In the face of
nearly unanimous world condemnation of the seven missile tests on
Wednesday, Pyongyang's foreign minister released a blustery statement
declaring that it had the right to develop and test its weapons —
and vowing unspecified retaliation against anyone who tries to stop it.

"Our military will continue with missile launch drills in the future as
part of efforts to strengthen self-defense deterrent," said the statement,
carried in state-run media.

"If anyone intends to dispute or add pressure about this, we will have to
take stronger physical actions in other forms."

The statement did not specify what actions North Korea would take.

The aggressive stance from Pyongyang coincided with intense diplomatic
activity in world capitals to formulate a response to the tests.
Washington and its allies — particularly Japan — clamored for
sanctions against the North, but struggled against resistance by China and
Russia.

North Korea set off an international furor on Wednesday when it tested
seven missiles, all of which landed into the Sea of Japan without causing
any damage. The blasts apparently included a long-range Taepodong-2 that
broke up less than a minute after takeoff and splashed into the sea.

The statement threatening more tests came as South Korean officials said
intelligence reports showed continued activity at Northern missile sites,
suggesting further firings could be in the works.

It was unclear if or when the missiles would fly. Japanese officials said
they had no indications another Taepodong test was being prepared, and
South Korean officials said the launches were not imminent.

Still, the North pulled no punches in its statement, hailing the launches
on Wednesday as a success and making no mention of the Taepodong-2
failure.

"The successful missile launches were part of our military's regular
military drills to strengthen self defense," said the statement. "As a
sovereign country, this is our legal right and we are not bound by any
international law or bilateral or multilateral agreements."

The ministry also denied it had violated a missile moratorium, saying it
was only in effect when Pyongyang was in dialogue with the U.S. The
statement also blamed the Japanese for making an international issue out
of North Korea's unsolved kidnappings of Japanese citizens.
Copyright 2006 AP