Jooang Daily [Seoul] on Monday, March 10, 2003

By Shim Shang-bok, Lee Chul-hee North Korea is said to be preparing another missile test in the East Sea (Sea of Japan). The United States may dispatch an Aegis battle cruiser to the area to protect its reconnaissance planes there, the New York Times reported.

The Ministry of National Defense yesterday said that North Korea will likely test another surface-to-surface missile this week. It fired off a missile Feb. 24, the eve of President Roh Moo-hyun¡’s inauguration. That was the first test since the North declared a suspension of missile test-firings in 1999. In 1998, it launched a multistage missile over Japan into the Pacific Ocean.

“We have captured the North¡’s plan, which includes banning ship movements in the East Sea. It will likely test-fire its second missile around Monday or Tuesday,” said a senior ministry official. He added that the North apparently will fire the missile from the area of Sinsang village, South Hamgyeong province, the pattern used in the prior missile test.