TOKYO — North Korea has banned ships from waters off its northeast coast until the end of this month, Japan’s coast guard said Friday, prompting speculation here about a possible military drill.

Kimchaek, North Korea

North Korea is warning ships not to travel in waters within a 130-kilometre (80-mile) radius from Kimchaek in its northeastern region between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm, said a spokesman for the Japan Coast Guard.

Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said Japan was collecting information on the ban, which media here speculated may be to clear the area for a military drill.

“I am yet to learn the purpose of the warning,” Nakasone told reporters.

In Seoul, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it had no information so far on the ban.

GeoEye-1 satellite image of the North Korean missile launch facility at Musudan-Ri , April 5, 2009 (Reuters)

The coastal town of Kimchaek is around 40 kilometres from a missile launch site at Musudan-ri, and about the same distance from Kilju district where the North conducted its first atomic test in 2006.

Pyongyang has vowed to carry out more nuclear and missile tests after the UN Security Council censured its April 5 long-range rocket launch from Musudan-ri. But no preparations have so far been reported for either.

The North also periodically test-fires short-range ground-to-ship or ship-to-ship missiles as part of naval exercises.  (AFP)

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