DPRK closes vast area of Sea of Japan (East Sea) to nav
20:29, 23 June 2009
TOKYO. June 23. KAZINFORM. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has again closed a vast area off its eastern coast to navigation, reporting for the first time that such a measure is being taken in view of the forthcoming military exercises; Kazinform refers to Itar-Tass.
A zone, 450 km long and 110 km wide in the area of port Wonsan will be closed to navigation from June 25 to July 10, Japan'a Maritime Safety Agency (MSA), which performs border guarding functions, has reported. For its part, the MSA received a respective notification from the North Korean side by e-mail. The ban on navigaiton in the zone will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m..
This time Pyongyang closes a wider area tonavigation than previously was the case. Earlier forbidden zones off the DPRK coast had been declared on June 8 and 18.
It is reported that Pyongyang currently prepares for the launch of a new long-range rocket, possibly that of intercontinental class; Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.