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Russian navy refuses to comment on North Korean missile launch

Other News Materials 5 July 2006 11:10 (UTC +04:00)

(RIA Novosti) - Russia's Pacific Fleet, whose air defense network monitors airspace over the country's Pacific coast, refused to comment Wednesday on a test missile launch conducted by North Korea.

The communist nation launched six missiles, including a long-range Taepodong-2, late Tuesday despite a moratorium on missile tests. According to the Japanese military, all missiles fell in the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan closer to Russia than to Japan, reports Trend.

"We do not comment on situations like this because it is the responsibility of the Foreign Ministry," the fleet's press service said.

The international community has been quick to condemn the actions of the secretive North Korean regime, which claimed in 2005 that it had nuclear weapons.

A U.S. state department official called the test-launches a "provocative act," while Japan and South Korea have put their military on high alert in the wake of the tests.

North Korea tested a long-range missile last time in 1998, when it launched a Taepodong-1 over northern Japan.

The UN Security Council said it would hold an emergency meeting later on Wednesday to discuss the developments.

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