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NKorean missile launch would be 'provocative': US
The United States said Tuesday that any test firing of a long-range missile by North Korea would be seen as a "provocative" act.
Copyright AFP 2008, AFP stories and photos shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium
"First of all, we don't comment on intelligence matters," said State Department spokesman Robert Wood.
"But North Korea's missile activities and, you know, missile programs are a concern to the region. There's no secret there. And a ballistic missile launch by North Korea would be unhelpful and, frankly, provocative."
Earlier a US counter-proliferation official said there were signs North Korea was preparing to test fire its longest-range missile, the Taepodong-2.
"But whether it will carry out the launch or not is entirely unclear, as is the timing for a possible launch," said the official, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity.
Copyright AFP 2008, AFP stories and photos shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium
