N. Korea moves to clear huge portion of waters off east coast

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout; RECASTS lead, headline)
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, June 8 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has banned ships from the waters off a
major portion of its east coast starting Tuesday, including a site where it fired
a long-range rocket on April 5, South Korean officials said.
The ban, effective between 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. from June 9 to 29 according to
the National Oceanographic Research Institute (NORI), starts at the mid-eastern
port of Yeongeodan and stretches 266 kilometers northeast along the coast of
South Hamgyeong Province.
Covering nearly 9,700 square kilometers, the ban ends near the Musudan-ri base
where the North launched a long-range rocket in April despite international
warnings.
North Korea imposed a similar ban late last month when it tested a nuclear device
in its northeastern region and fired a series of short-range missiles off the
east coast.
"North Korea tends to impose such bans when it intends to test missiles," a NORI
official said, declining to be named.
The ban did not include the waters off the southeastern county of Anbyon where
South Korean defense officials say the North may be preparing to test-fire
several medium-range missiles.
North Korea is also apparently preparing to test-fire a long-range ballistic
missile on its west coast, the officials say.
North Korea has vowed to resume its nuclear and missile testing since the U.N.
Security Council condemned its April 5 rocket launch, which only Pyongyang says
put a satellite in space.
South Korea and the U.S. say the rocket could be converted into a ballistic
missile capable of hitting the western U.S.
North Korea conducted its second nuclear test on May 25 following the first in
October 2006.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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