Report: NKorean launches maybe included new Scud

Tokyo is about 720 miles 1,160 kilometers from the base on North Korea8217;s east coast from where the missiles were fired. Some other parts of Japan are closer,well within the range of a Scud-ER. Scuds are single stage,liquid-fueled missiles,originally developed in the former Soviet Union,and generally known for poor accuracy. Ballistic missile programs in Pakistan and Iran were built on Scud technology.

The Chosun Ilbo,citing a government source it did not name,said the other four missiles were two Scud-C missiles with a range of 310 miles 500 kilometers and two medium-range Rodong missiles that can travel up to 810 miles 1,300 kilometers. Five of the seven missiles flew about 260 miles 420 kilometers from an eastern coastal launch site and landed in one area,meaning their accuracy has improved,the paper said. South Korea8217;s Defense Ministry said it could not confirm the report,saying details of the launches were still under investigation.

One Defense Ministry official told The Associated Press on Sunday that the missiles appeared to have traveled about 250 miles 400 kilometers,meaning that key government and military facilities in South Korea were within range. The official spoke on condition of anonymity citing department policy. North Korea has long-range missiles as well. The Taepodong-2 has a potential range of more than 4,100 miles 6,700 kilometers,putting Alaska within striking distance. The country is believed to be developing a missile with an even longer range that could potentially put the U.S. west coast,Hawaii,Australia and eastern Europe within striking distance. The launches on July 4 8211; the U.S. Independence Day holiday also appeared to be a poke at Washington as it moves to enforce U.N. as well as its own sanctions against the isolated regime for its May 25 nuclear test.

Adm. Mike Mullen,chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff,warned they were 8220;very destabilizing,potentially.8221; But Vice President Joe Biden indicated the U.S. would not be baited by attacks on the day Americans celebrated their independence. On ABC,he described the flurry of rockets as 8220;attention-seeking behavior.8221; He added: 8220;I don8217;t want to give the attention.8221; U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he is concerned about the missile tests,which defied Security Council resolutions. He told reporters Sunday that North Korea8217;s communist regime has closed all doors to communication and dialogue. Officials at South Korea8217;s unification and defense ministries said Monday that Ban appeared to be emphasizing the launches would further deepen the North8217;s isolation. Nevertheless,the two Koreas have not severed all contact despite increasingly strained ties. They have held several rounds of talks on their joint factory park,

the latest last week,and are still connected by several hot lines. North Korean state media have not specifically mentioned the launches but boasted Sunday that the country8217;s military could impose 8220;merciless punishment8221; on those who provoke it. 8220;Our revolutionary forces have grown up today as the strong army

that can impose merciless punishment against those who offend us,8221; the North8217;s main Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in a commentary,carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

The North has engaged in a series of acts this year widely seen as provocative. It fired a long-range rocket it said was a satellite in early April,and in late May it carried out its second underground nuclear test following the first in late 2006. Another defense official said Monday that no signs of additional North Korean launches have been detected but that the South Korean military was closely monitoring the North8217;s military. He also spoke on condition of anonymity citing department policy. The North has warned ships to stay away from a large area off the east coast until July 10,leading to concerns more missiles could be fired.