North Korea closes ports, may be preparing for missile tests
16:13, 26 January 2010
MOSCOW. January 26. KAZINFORM North Korea has shut down ports on its western coast and could be readying to test-fire missiles, South Korea's Yonhap agency said on Tuesday, citing a military official; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
The area is near a disputed Yellow Sea border with South Korea, the scene of a naval clash last November between the countries.
The North has banned ships from entering its Yellow Sea zone, and we are watching to see if there are preparations for short-range missile launches, an unidentified South Korean military official was quoted by the agency as saying.
The report comes as Pyongyang has signaled its readiness to resume international nuclear disarmament talks; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.
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