Japan condemns N. Korea's test-firing of missiles as provocation+

TOKYO, July 6 Kyodo -
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said Monday that North Korea's latest
launching of ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan was an act of
''provocation,'' calling on the country to observe U.N. resolutions banning it
from all ballistic missile-related activities.

''We demand that North Korea fully comply with relevant U.N. Security Council
resolutions, and take this opportunity to strongly urge it to take concrete
actions so it will comprehensively resolve issues such as the abduction,
nuclear and missile issues'' in accordance with a bilateral agreement, Kawamura
told a news conference.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone called Saturday's missile
test-firing ''unacceptable,'' saying that Japan will discuss how to deal with
the situation with concerned countries.
''This is a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and simply cannot be
tolerated. We will closely cooperate (with other countries) at the United
Nations and consider how to respond to the matter,'' he told reporters.
On whether the launches indicate that North Korea has made headway in its
ballistic missile technology, Nakasone said only that the issue should be
studied by the Defense Ministry and other entities.
For his part, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the ministry must analyze
data before reaching any substantive conclusion about the launchings.
Judging from the statements Pyongyang has made so far, Hamada told a news
conference, ''We cannot deny the possibility that North Korea may launch more
ballistic missiles.''
The Defense Ministry said seven ballistic missiles are believed to have been
launched from North Korea's southeastern region on Saturday, when the United
States marked Independence Day, with all of them believed to have fallen into
the Sea of Japan near the North Korean coast.
They were possibly either short-range Scuds or the intermediate-range Rodong,
it said.
The missiles were launched around 8 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:40 a.m., noon, 2:40
p.m., 4:10 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., respectively, and are believed to have fallen
into waters North Korea has designated as a military drill area, according to
the ministry.
Pyongyang's actions are seen to be a clear expression of its stern posture
against the United States, Japan, South Korea and other members of the
international community that have stepped up pressure on the country through
U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions in response to its nuclear test and
rocket launches earlier this year.
==Kyodo