North Korea Missile Test Reported After Announcement Of Kim Jong Il Death

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea conducted at least one short-range missile test Monday, the same day it announced the death of leader Kim Jong Il, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

Two South Korean military officials said they couldn't immediately confirm the report, saying to do so would breach a policy of not commenting on intelligence matters.

Both said any firing would be part of a routine drill and have little relation to Kim Jong Il's death. They both spoke on condition of anonymity, citing policy.

Yonhap cited unidentified government and military officials as saying the test occurred off the east coast.

North Korea is urging its people to rally behind Kim Jong Il's young son and heir-apparent Kim Jong Un, as the world watches warily for signs of instability in a nation pursuing nuclear weapons.

South Korea has put its military on high alert against the North's 1.2 million-strong armed forces. President Barack Obama agreed by phone with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to closely monitor developments.

North Korea is preparing for next year's 100th anniversary of the birth of its founder Kim Il Sung – Kim Jong Il's father. The preparations include massive construction projects throughout the capital as part of Kim Jong Il's unfulfilled promise to bring prosperity to his people.

Comments

[sam ella]

12:47 AM on 12/20/2011

i think they were launching his body into space.

[1ccc1]

11:03 PM on 12/19/2011

With the NDAA bill passed by Both Democrats and Repubs and obama demanding Citizens included, soon We will be N korea, or worse. Vote Out Every rep who voted for the NDAA bill.

[surprised-ur-surprised]

09:54 PM on 12/19/2011

On November 25,1950, at the Korean western front, the PVA 13th Army Group attacked and over-ran the ROK II Corps at the Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River, and then decimated the US 2nd Infantry Division on the UN forces' right flank. The UN Command retreated; the US Eighth Army's retreat (the longest in US Army history) was made possible because of the Turkish Brigade's successful, but very costly, rear-guard delaying action near Kunuri that slowed the PVA attack for two days. On 27 November at the Korean eastern front, a US 7th Infantry Division Regimental Combat Team (3,000 soldiers) and the US 1st Marine Division (12,000–15,000 marines) were unprepared for the PVA 9th Army Group's three-pronged encirclement tactics at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, but they managed to escape under Air Force and X Corps support fire—albeit with some 15,000 collective casualties. But maybe with a great mind like yours leading the battle, we could prevail. Oops, I forgot - you just want to send somebody else to die. To save your Kia?

[commiepinko]

08:13 PM on 12/19/2011

I'm sure we can expect more of the same from NK

[ware]

07:59 PM on 12/19/2011

Hmm.. Maybe instead of putting the army on high alert and escalate the pressure, the south Koreans can try to reach out, along with many other countries.
Is there no concern about the north Korean people?, are they guilty of having that crazy guy in charge? Now, they might have a slim chance to do some democratic changes, you know.

[mhulgin]

07:39 PM on 12/19/2011

Hey, let these Idiots fire all the Fire Power they want. A push of Our Button and it's gonna be nothing to talk about !!!

[keedyk87]

07:19 PM on 12/19/2011

Thanks to American Corporations China has enough money to give North Korea plenty of foreign aid!

[Muse1876]

07:41 PM on 12/19/2011

And the money we borrowed.

[butterfly218]

09:18 PM on 12/19/2011

I can see a McDonalds and Walmart there in 5..4..3.... He is a young man and he is not about to start a war anywhere .

[JohnMavis41]

07:08 PM on 12/19/2011

The US is so paranoid, now they're confusing fireworks with missiles --

[countj62]

07:41 PM on 12/19/2011

Maybe an expensive toy ESTES rocket?

[missmymind2353]

06:53 PM on 12/19/2011

WE CONDUCTED MISSILE TEST DURNING THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS IN 1962

[johntykie]

06:23 PM on 12/19/2011

Our great leader has died, let fire off some missiles. They better take warning, the torch has been handed to a new generation, and it just might be used to fire off some well aimed cruise missiles.

[tnlcallen]

06:16 PM on 12/19/2011

Note to OWS'ers: This is the com.munist utopia you all have been clamoring for. Perhaps it would just be easier for all of us if you move there.

[blackwind]

06:39 PM on 12/19/2011

You need to listen better. The OWS people have really been clamoring for something way different.

[twitch1956]

06:54 PM on 12/19/2011

wow you really are misinformed about the OWS movement. Please start paying attention.

[vtmilitia]

06:13 PM on 12/19/2011

Now the "Young General" gets to play with the big toys.

[mhulgin]

07:42 PM on 12/19/2011

Yes he has them. And may eat someone elses !! They don't have a chance.. Get in the Game...

[marineplt3004]

05:54 PM on 12/19/2011

obamas vacation is going too coast tax payers 4 MILLION&.WHY

[ware]

07:46 PM on 12/19/2011

Four mil. to have a "fired up and ready-to-go" president is not too much. Would you rather prefer a overworked, tired, burned up president?

[butterfly218]

09:20 PM on 12/19/2011

Get out of the Fox hole and see the truth .

[marineplt3004]

05:50 PM on 12/19/2011

obama should go over and BOW to the BOY now

[commiepinko]

08:15 PM on 12/19/2011

can you see any daylight with your head so far up in there?

[Bruce Richer]

05:44 PM on 12/19/2011

he might have lived longer but Kim Jong was too ill

[marineplt3004]

05:55 PM on 12/19/2011

or you a kim fan.

[lletraw]

08:19 PM on 12/19/2011

Too ill...good one!