Japan Shoots Down Dummy US Missile

But long-term concerns lead Gates to boost islands' defenses

(NEWSER) - North Korea shows no sign of preparing to launch a long-range ballistic missile towards Hawaii, four US government officials tell Bloomberg. While satellites tracked preparations for at least a week before the regime's April launch, no similar evidence confirms media reports of a Hawaii-bound missile. Nevertheless, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered missile interceptors and radar tracking to boost Hawaii's long-term defense. More»

China complains about large exercises

(NEWSER) - Japan and the US began some of their biggest military exercises ever today, conspicuously mobilizing more than 44,000 troops, 400 aircrafts, and a US supercarrier right under North Korea’s nose. These “keen sword” maneuvers are an annual exercise, but this year’s display is especially large, and for the first time includes South Korean observers. The subtext wasn’t lost on China, which criticized the countries for stirring the pot. More»

Relationship with Asian ally increasingly strained

(NEWSER) - All is not well between the US and Japan. Yesterday Robert Gates warned the country of serious consequences if it backs out of a troop movement deal the two countries spent 10 years negotiating. Japan’s new ruling party wants to reopen those negotiations, as it moves to redefine its relations with the US. Washington isn’t pleased, and State Department officials complain that the new party, which ended 50 years of one-party rule, lacks experience governing. More»

Bilateral negotiations would be first directly between nations

(NEWSER) - The US diplomat in charge of North Korea policy will visit Pyongyang next month for the first bilateral nuclear negotiations between the countries, South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo reports today. Amid signs from reclusive Kim Jong Il of a thaw in relations, Stephen Bosworth will lead a delegation that will also visit China and Japan, key players in six-party talks aimed at curbing the North’s nuclear ambitions. More»

(NEWSER) - South Korea scrubbed a planned satellite launch minutes before liftoff today, citing an unspecified technical error, reports the BBC. Seoul has been itching to join the Asian space race and has already produced 10 satellites for other countries' rockets. But the event had threatened to strain recently improved relations with North Korea, which claims—to the disbelief of South Korea and the US—to have successfully launched a satellite in April. More»