On July 5, 2006, North Korea test-fired three types of long-range missiles, one of which had the capacity to hit parts of the United States. The missiles tested were the Nodong-1, Nodong-2, and Taepodong-2, and were all fired over Japan though one failed and splashed into the East Sea. The tests came after weeks of efforts by China, Japan, the US, and South Korea to convince the North not to fire the missiles, and were followed by a UN resolution on possible sanctions, Japanese sanctions including barring the Mangyongbyon-92 from docking, and the suspension of all food aid from South Korea. Prior to the test, the US had considered using the longest-range missile as target practice to test its own anti-missile system.

In the weeks after the test, several top South Korean officials harshly criticized the US and Japan for both their policy failures regarding the North and for their harsh reaction to the tests. They were backed by President Roh Moo-hyun. The US also accused Iranian officials of having witnessed the tests.

[edit] External links

• "A North Korean Missile Test: Implications for the U.S. and the Region", published by The Heritage Foundation.
• Transcript of a US State Department press briefing on July 4, 2006.

News articles

• "S Korean Official Faults US In N Korea Missile Launch", Associated Press, July 23, 2006.
• "Roh aide calls Japan's reaction to missiles ‘truly evil'", The JoongAng Daily, July 22, 2006.
• "US Official Says Iranians Witnessed North Korean Missile Tests", Voice of America News, July 20, 2006.
• " Security Council votes for N. Korea sanctions", CNN Online, July 17, 2006.
• "N. Korea missile aimed at area off Hawaii - report, Reuters News Service, July 7, 2006.
• "North Korean missile test to go unpunished after UN split", The Times Online, July 6, 2006.
• "N Korea's missiles met by Japanese sanctions", The Asia Times, July 6, 2006.
• "Russia Calls North Korean Missile Launches Regrettable", Voice of America News, July 5, 2006.
• "There's method in the missile madness", The Asia Times, June 21, 2006.
• "U.S. weighs responses to N. Korea missile test, MSNBC, June 20, 2006.