JAPAN: U.S. Air Force in Japan dispatched a data collection aircraft from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa keeping up vigilance against North Korea's further nuclear activities

The U.S. Air Force in Japan dispatched a data collection aircraft Tuesday (October 10), keeping up vigilance against North Korea's further nuclear activities. A WC-135W Constant Phoenix air sampling and collection aircraft took off from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, along with other tanker air planes. The Constant Phoenix is able to collect particulate and gaseous effluents and debris from accessible regions of the atmosphere. U.S. forces in the region are on high-alert after North Korea announced it conducted a nuclear test on Monday (October 9). Monday's announcement by Pyongyang sharply escalated world concerns over North Korea's nuclear program and was a slap in the face for major regional and world powers engaged in six-party talks intended to prevent just such a test. The United Nation's Security Council discussed a U.S. proposal for tough measures including international inspections of cargo going in and out of North Korea to check for weapons of mass destruction and related materials, diplomats said. Other proposals included a total arms embargo and a freeze on assets associated with Pyongyang's weapons of mass destruction. Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Tuesday (October 10) that Tokyo wanted to confirm that North Korea had conducted a nuclear test before slapping it with sanctions, but raised the possibility of taking action without verification. Abe told reporters that it might be difficult to confirm the test, adding that Japan would take this into consideration in deciding on when to implement fresh sanctions against Pyongyang. Japan's military has been flying several aircraft since Monday (October 9) to collect air samples for checks on radiation levels, but the planes, as well as radiation monitors throughout Japan, had yet to detect any abnormalities, officials said.

ITN Source | October 10, 2006

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