North preparing for new missile test: Russia MP

Moscow, Oct. 7: North Korea is preparing to test a long-range missile which it believes can reach the west coast of the United States, a Russian lawmaker just returned from a visit to Pyongyang was quoted as saying on Friday.

Anton Morozov, a member of the Russian Lower House of Parliament’s international affairs committee, and two other Russian lawmakers visited Pyongyang on October 2-6, Russia’s RIA news agency reported.

“They are preparing for new tests of a long-range missile. They even gave us mathematical calculations that they believe prove that their missile can hit the west coast of the United States,” RIA quoted Mr Morozov as saying.

“As far as we understand, they intend to launch one more longrange missile in the near future. And in general, their mood is rather belligerent.”

Tensions have risen in recent weeks over North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs as Pyongyang has test-fired several missiles and conducted what it said was a test explosion of a hydrogen bomb as it advances toward its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the US mainland.

Mr Morozov’s comments drove up the price of US treasury bonds, as investors, worried about the prospect of new They are preparing for new tests of a long-range missile. They even gave us calculations that they believe prove that their missile can hit the west coast of the US.

Anton Morozov, North Korean missile tests, moved into assets the market views as a safe haven in times of uncertainty.

Reuters was not able to independently verify Mr Morozov’s account, and he did not specify which North Korean officials had given him the information about the planned test.

Mr Morozov’s delegation had “high-level” meetings in Pyongyang, RIA news agency said, citing the Russian embassy in the North Korean capital.

Tensions over North Korea’s nuclear program have been running high in recent weeks.