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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.”
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Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament 
