US President George W. Bush and visiting Japanese Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi warned on Thursday that the possible launch of
long-range missile by North Korea? would be
"unacceptable."
"We both agreed that it's very important for us to remain united
in sending a clear message to the North Korean leader that, first
of all, launching a missile is unacceptable," Bush said at a joint
press conference with the Japanese prime minister in the White
House.
"There have been no briefings as to what's on top of the
missile. He hasn't told anybody where the missile's going," Bush
said in reference to North Korea top leader Kim Jong-il.
"He has an obligation, it seems like to me and to the prime
minister, that there be a full briefing to those of us who are
concerned about this issue as to what his intentions are," Bush
added.
For his part, Koizumi said that there will be "pressures" on
North Korea if it decides to launch the missile.
"Should they ever launch the missile, that will cause various
pressures. We would apply various pressures," Koizumi said,
although he did not elaborate.
Japanese and South Korean media have claimed that North Korea
might be prepared to test-fire a long-range missile.
(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2006)
