Cheney says North Korea missile capability rudimentary

WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney has called North Korea's missile capabilities "fairly rudimentary", despite fears Pyongyang is preparing a test launch of a weapon that could reach the United States.

In an interview with CNN, Cheney seemed to downplay the threat from North Korea's missile programme but said Washington was closely monitoring the apparent preparations for a launch that would break Pyongyang's 1999 moratorium.

The United States has been saying for about a week that there is evidence North Korea might test-fire a long-range ballistic missile and has activated a ground-based interceptor missile-defence system in case Pyongyang goes ahead.

Cheney, according to a transcript of the CNN interview, said North Korea seems to have improved the range of its missiles but suggested the programme still lacks sophistication.

"We believe it does have a third stage added to it now, but again, we don't know what the payload is," he said.

"I think it's also fair to say that the North Korean missile capabilities are fairly rudimentary. ... But we are watching it with interest and following it very closely."

- REUTERS