North Korea pursues space programme
Last Updated: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 16:37:00 +1100
North Korea says it's actively pursuing a space programme, amid reports from US and South Korean officials that Pyongyang is preparing to test fire a long-range missile.
The official daily of the ruling communist party said the North had every right to develop a space programme, as a member of the international community.
Officials in Seoul and Washington say there are signs the communist state is preparing to test its Taepodong-2 missile, which has a range of 67 hundred kilometres and could theoretically reach Alaska.
The reports come amid rising tensions between Pyongyang and Seoul and stalled six-nation talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programmes.
