U.S. To Respond If North Korea Tests Missile

The top US envoy to South Korea warned Wednesday that Washington and its allies would ‘respond appropriately’ if North Korea test-fired a missile capable of reaching the United States. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow said Washington was monitoring preparations for a long-range missile test that have reportedly been under way for more than a month at a remote launch pad in northeastern North Korea. ‘We really don't know what are the intentions of chairman Kim Jong-Il or any other military leaders in North Korea,’ Vershbow said in an interview with state-run KBS radio. ‘But as I said we want them to understand that tests in light of other problems that we have in our relations with North Korea will be viewed as a very serious matter and we will take appropriate measures in response.