RKMBs Forums .::Important::. Politics and Current Events Obama Condemns North Korea's Nuclear Test, Promises 'Action'

S. Korea: North Has Launched More Missiles

(CBS/AP) A South Korean news agency reported Tuesday that North Korea had test-fired two short-range missiles, one day after conducting an underground nuclear test and other missile launches that drew unanimous condemnation from the United Nations.

The Yonhap news agency cited unnamed government sources as saying the missiles, fired from an east coast launch pad, had a range of about 80 miles.

The reports said one was a surface-to-air missile and the other was a ground-to-ship missile. Both were fired Tuesday afternoon.

South Korean intelligence officials said the North appeared to be preparing to fire at least one more missile on Tuesday. If they carry out the test launch, it would bring the total number of missiles fired in just 48 hours to six.

CBS News correspondent Barry Petersen reports that South Korea agreed on the heels of Monday's nuclear test and missile launches to join U.S. efforts to enforce a strict maritime blockade on all nuclear and weapons related materials entering North Korea. Pyongyang declared Tuesday that if the South joins that effort, it will be viewed as a declaration of war.

Petersen adds that U.S. military surveillance planes flying out of Japan may have witnessed the test launches on Tuesday, but the Pentagon has yet to confirm that missiles were fired.

The U.N. Security Council swiftly condemned North Korea's nuclear test on Monday as "a clear violation" of a 2006 resolution banning them and said it will start work immediately on a new one that could result in stronger measures against the reclusive nation.

Speaking to CBS Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice said the North Korean regime, "needs to understand that its actions have consequences. The international community, the United States, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, we're not going to walk away and just throw up our hands and say, let them pursue this path. They will pay a price for their actions."

Rice said she expected the coming meeting of the Security Council to yield a new resolution on Pyongyang which she believes "will have teeth in it."

"I expect additional sanctions. The pressure will increase on North Korea, economically and otherwise," the ambassador told Smith.

Asked whether the reclusive communist nation's defiance during the previous 48 hours had prompted the Obama administration to more seriously consider a military response, Rice told CBS News the government would " take the steps that are necessary to protect our country and our people."

"We are still focused on what united pressure we can continue to muster and mount to make North Korea recognize that the path it's on is self-destructive and unacceptable," she added.

I expect additional sanctions. The pressure will increase on North Korea, economically and otherwise.
Susan Rice,
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Hours after North Korea defiantly conducted its test on Monday, even its closest allies, China and Russia, joined Western powers and representatives from the rest of the world on the council to voice strong opposition to the underground explosion.

After a brief emergency meeting held at Japan's request, the council demanded that North Korea abide by two previous resolutions, which among other things called for Pyongyang to return to six-party talks aimed at eliminating its nuclear program. It also called on all other U.N. member states to abide by sanctions imposed on the North.

Rice said the 15-member council agreed that work on the new resolution would begin Tuesday.

"What we heard today was swift, clear, unequivocal condemnation and opposition to what occurred," she said. "The United States thinks that this is a grave violation of international law and a threat to regional and international peace and security and therefore the United States will seek a strong resolution with strong measures."

North Korea's reclusive communist regime reacted by declaring the impoverished nation's people ready to defend against any American invasion.

The Tuesday missile launches could not be immediately verified, but North Korean officials had issued warnings for ships not to enter specific areas off the country's coast - a measure often taken before a missile test-launch or other military maneuvers.