Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

CND Condemns US Double Standards Threats On Missile Testing

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Published on Tuesday, 20 June 2006 14:32

CND has condemned hints by the US Department of Defence that the US may use its missile defence system to shoot down a predicted North Korean missile test, and urged renewed diplomatic initiatives. According to US satellite photos, North Korea has been preparing a test of a long-range missile capable of hitting the US, and has gone as far as fuelling the rocket for the upcoming launch. But the US itself test-fired a Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile on 14th June, which travelled nearly 4800 miles from Vandenberg Air Force Base to the Kwajelin Missile Range in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said, “It would be a serious, provocative mistake for the US to heighten tensions with North Korea by attempting to use its missile defence system to shoot down a North Korean missile test. Such an act will likely increase the efforts of other countries to develop weapons capable of getting past the system and will contribute to an escalating arms race. This is the latest example of US double standards on weapons development. If the US really wants to stop other countries from developing dangerous weapons, it must first stop testing and developing such weapons itself. Renewed talks and diplomatic initiatives should be undertaken instead.”