Seoul's ex-foreign minister warns of further nuke tests by N. Korea

SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- Song Min-soon, an opposition lawmaker who served as foreign minister during the Roh Moo-hyun presidency, warned Thursday that North Korea will continue to test nuclear weapons, escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula.

Song of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) also forecast that the
communist North is likely to continue to test-launch its missiles of various
ranges in a bid to improve their accuracy and precision.
"(The development of nuclear weapons) is usually completed after five to six
tests," said Song at a DP workshop held in southern Seoul Thursday night.
"Chances are high that North Korea's missile tests would be persistent,
intensifying tension on the Korean Peninsula. Tests of short-range, long-rang and
surface-to-ship missiles are intended to improve their accuracy. It may be true
that the North has military conflicts in the western sea border and a countermove
to South Korea's PSI participation in mind," said Song, referring to the U.S.-led
security campaign dubbed the Proliferation Security Initiative.
North Korea has launched a round of short-range missiles and made gestures at
firing a long-range ballistic missile after claiming it successfully conducted
its second nuclear test on May 25.
Song served as a senior presidential secretary for security policy and foreign
minister during the 2003-2008 Roh presidency.
He then urged his party leadership to send warnings to North Korea regarding its
successive provocative acts.