N Korea: Fears of new test growing

North Korea hasn’t been engaging in new nuclear or missile tests but recently we’ve seen them persistently testing engines and carrying out fuel tests

CHO MYOUNG-GYON,

South Korean unification minister

TOKYO: Japan has detected radio signals suggesting North Korea may be preparing another ballistic missile launch, although such signals are not unusual and satellite images did not show fresh activity, a Japanese government source said on Tuesday.

After firing missiles at a pace of about two or three a month since April, North Korean missile launches paused in September, after it fired a rocket that passed over Japan’s northern Hokkaido island.

“This is not enough to determine (if a launch is likely soon),” the source told Reuters.

Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported on Monday that the Japanese government was on alert after catching such radio signals, suggesting a launch could come in a few days.

The report also said the signals might be related to winter military training by the North Korean military.

North Korea is pursuing its nuclear weapons and missile programmes in defiance of UN Security Council sanctions and has made no secret of its plans to develop a missile capable of hitting the US mainland.

JAPAN ALERT ON ‘GHOST BOATS’ FROM N KOREA

Japan is stepping up patrols and urging local authorities and fishermen to be on the alert after several boats thought to be from North Korea were found on its northern coast.

“The coast guard and police have to cooperate to step up sea patrols around Japan,” chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said on Tuesday about reports that a boat carrying eight dead bodies was found on the coast of Akita prefecture, which faces North Korea . “The government intends to improve this to ensure we can guard against suspicious boats.” AGENCIES