US monitoring N. Korea missile activity from Japan

[March 03, 2009]  MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan (AP) -- The U.S. military is closely monitoring activities in North Korea from its bases in Japan ahead of the expected launch of a long-range missile that could be capable of striking U.S. territory, officials said Tuesday.

North Korea said last week that it would launch a communications satellite into orbit. But neighboring governments believe the satellite claim may be a cover for a missile launch and have warned the regime not to carry out any "provocative" actions.

Analysts say satellite images reveal brisk activity at a launch pad in North Korea's northeast.

U.S. military officials at Misawa Air Base, which is on Japan's northern fringe just across the Sea of Japan from North Korea, said they are closely watching the situation but refused to provide any details about the possible timing of the launch.

"U.S. Army forces in Japan are always vigilant and more than capable of defending Japan from any threat, including ballistic missiles, and as always we are working closely with our Japanese allies," Maj. James Crawford, a spokesman for the U.S. Army in Japan, said Tuesday.

Amid heightened tensions, Japan's Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said it is "natural" for Tokyo to "respond to any situations" when asked whether the government plans to shoot down a North Korean missile.

Kyodo News agency also said Japan plans to deploy an Aegis radar-equipped destroyer carrying a missile interceptor to the Sea of Japan before Pyongyang's expected missile launch.

Quoting unnamed defense sources, Kyodo said the deployment of the interceptor was a precautionary measure as Japan cooperates with the U.S. military on the looming missile threat. A Japanese Defense Ministry spokeswoman declined to confirm the report.

Japan, which is within easy range of the North's arsenal, has long been anxious about missile activity from North Korea, which in 1998 launched a long-range ballistic missile over its main island and well into the Pacific, almost reaching Alaska.

Since then, Japan and the United States have worked together on ballistic missile defense and have built a multibillion dollar ballistic missile shield that includes interceptor missiles both onboard ships at sea and Patriot missile units that ring Tokyo and are also positioned on the island of Okinawa -- where more than half of the 50,000 U.S. troops in Japan are deployed.

North Korea unsuccessfully test-fired a long-range missile in 2006 -- the same year it conducted its first nuclear test -- but is believed to have made improvements in its missile capabilities.

Officials say Misawa is a front-line station for monitoring North Korean activity. If U.S. military satellites detect a flash of heat from a missile range in North Korea, within seconds computers at the base can plot a rough trajectory.

Analysts say North Korea's latest threat is a bid to draw President Barack Obama's attention as his administration formulates its North Korea policy as international disarmament talks remain on hold. Obama's envoy on North Korea is heading to the region for talks with his counterparts to the nuclear talks.

[Associated Press; By ERIC TALMADGE]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.