Associated Press 02/25/03
Original Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-2430772,00.html
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea launched a missile that crashed into the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan on Monday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said Tuesday.
Yonhap, quoting an unidentified source at Seoul's Defense Ministry, said that South Korea was investigating whether the launch was a test of a new missile.
The South Korean Defense Ministry could not immediately confirm the report, said a spokesman who wished to be identified by only as Lt. Col. Moon.
Yonhap said South Korean authorities were investigating other details of the land-to-sea missile.
The reported missile launch came on the eve of the inauguration of South Korea's new president, Roh Moo-hyun.
In August 1998, North Korea fired a multistage missile that flew over Japan and landed in the Pacific Ocean, proving the Koreans can strike any part of Japan's territory.
The following year, North Korea pledged to freeze testing of long-range missile for the duration of negotiations to improve relations.
In recent months, fear has risen that North Korea might resume missile tests amid the standoff over North Korea's nuclear activities.
Tension has been rising since October when U.S. officials said North Korea admitted running a clandestine nuclear weapons program.