North Korea warns critics over missile test

North Korea lashed out at critics warning it not to test a long-range missile, saying it would punish those trying to disrupt its plan to send what it calls a satellite into orbit.

The latest harsh words from Pyongyang came as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced plans to send her new envoy on North Korea to meet with negotiators in Asia trying to revive stalled nuclear disarmament talks.

Mrs Clinton later spoke by telephone with her South Korean counterpart, Yu Myung-hwan, to discuss the North’s missile issue and informed him of her envoy’s trip to Seoul, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said without elaborating.

North Korea announced earlier this week that it was preparing to shoot a communication satellite into orbit as part of it space programme.

The US, South Korea and other neighbouring countries believe the launch may be a cover for a missile test-fire, saying the action would trigger international sanctions.

Yesterday, the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of (North) Korea accused South Korea of “trumpeting about ’sanctions”’ against its satellite launch, saying outsiders will know “what will soar in the air in the days ahead”.

“If the puppet warmongers infringe upon our inviolable dignity even a bit ... we will not only punish the provokers but reduce their stronghold to debris,” the committee said in a statement carried by the country’s official Korean Central News Agency.

Kim Myong Gil, minister to the North’s UN mission in New York, said in Atlanta where he was attending an academic forum that his country would implement the satellite launch “as scheduled”.