日本一家报纸说，北韩正在准备在7月初朝着夏威夷的方向发射一枚远程弹道导弹。日本读卖新闻说，日本防卫省相信，北韩5月30号从平壤附近的某工厂将一枚大浦洞二型或者改进型导弹运送到了西北部的东仓里发射基地。
报导援引防卫省的话说，北韩有可能在7月4号到7月8号期间发射这枚导弹。不过，报导说，防卫省官员不认为北韩导弹的射程能达到夏威夷岛。
而国际危机组织的报告警告说，北韩军队有2500至5000吨化学武器，包括芥子气、沙林和其它致命气体。
国际危机组织驻首尔的代表星期四说，正常情况下，北韩势弱，但是如果北韩和韩国的冲突升级，北韩可能使用化学武器。
A Japanese newspaper says North Korea is preparing to launch a long-range ballistic missile toward (the Pacific U.S. state of) Hawaii in early July. The Daily Yomiuri says Japan’s Defense Ministry believes a Taepodong-2 missile or an upgraded version was delivered to the northwest Tongchang-ri launch site from a plant near Pyongyang on May 30.
It quotes the ministry as saying the missile could be launched between July 4 and 8. But it says defense officials do not believe the missile can reach the Hawaiian islands.
A separate report by the International Crisis Group warns that North Korea’s army has between 2,500 and 5,000 tons of chemical weapons, including mustard gas, sarin and other deadly agents.
Daniel Pinkston, the group’s representative in Seoul, said Thursday that in conventional terms North Korea is weak and could resort to chemical weapons if a conflict with the South escalates.