Asian News

The Japan Times reports,

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi warned, "If North Korea does not listen to us and launches a missile, the Japanese government would have to take severe measures in cooperation with the U.S.," Koizumi told reporters at his official residence.

Australia's Herald Sun reports,

Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Alexander Downer, said that a launch would be "highly provocative."

Mr Downer said he sent a message to North Korea's ambassador to Canberra, Chon Jae-Hong, "to warn him against a long-range missile test and to explain the serious consequences that would follow such a firing."

Taipei Times reports,

Opponents of a possible North Korean long-range missile test stepped up a diplomatic drive to stop the launch yesterday, issuing a barrage of warnings to Pyongyang and threatening retaliation if it goes ahead.

North Korea has taken apparent moves toward test-firing a missile believed capable of reaching the US, putting the region on alert.

North Korean state TV made its first mention of a missile last night, with a report referring to a Russian media report that dismissed US claims about its missile capability.

The North Korean evening news broadcast, monitored in Seoul, said nothing about whether the North intended to test-launch a long-range missile.

The Russian commentary said "the US claim that North Korea has a missile that can hit the US is unconfirmed speculation," according to the North Korean announcer.

However, the report added that the editorial had said the North "has the due right to have a missile that can immediately halt the United States' reckless aerial espionage activity."

The North's state media has been silent on the missile issue.

The chances of a launch were unclear yesterday, in part because of the weather at the missile site. There were cloudy skies and chances of showers in the area, with fog along the coast, said Kim Duck-wan, an official at the South's Korea Meteorological Administration.

Japan, the US, Australia and News Zealand all cautioned the North that a test of a Taepodong-2 missile would bring serious consequences.

Japan has taken a lead in calling for a halt to preparations. North Korea fired a missile over northern Japan in 1998.

"Japan has been urging North Korea to stop the attempt to launch a missile," Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said yesterday. "We are making efforts to urge North Korea to act rationally and with self-restraint."

"If it does not listen to us and fires a missile, we have to consult with the United States and take stern measures," he said.

He refused to specify possible steps, but other officials have mentioned sanctions and an appeal to the UN Security Council.

US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer, also said sanctions were an option.

In Seoul, the ruling Uri Party called on Pyongyang not to put its "friend in danger" by testing the missile, while the opposition accused the government of not leaning hard enough on the North to stop the launch.

Japan's Mainichi Shimbun reported last night that the fueling was apparently already complete. After fueling is finished, the missile has a launch window of about one month, the report said citing unidentified US officials.

You gotta love that comment about "reckless aerial espionage activity." Priceless.