Naval Skirmish

say the -- and -- free fourth of July fireworks coming from North Korea the very very latest worry that we're getting. Courtesy our pentagon bureau is that for short range missiles have now been launched by North Korea literally the past 04 or so hours there -- launched from an east coast. North Korean site. Have basically about a hundred miles in range these are surface to ship. Cruz style missiles. Basically not a threat to Japan not really a threat to South Korea but certainly an eye catcher certainly and attention. Grabber we had been thinking that maybe. A mid range or even a long range missile might be launched by North Korea . And the next couple of days but we're seeing no preparations for that kind of thing yet. But certainly this burst of

And what we're serious note for -- fox Mueller at a North Korea they are at it again. Test firing three short range missiles. Raising new. I knew that tensions on the Korean Peninsula and the fears. That this rogue nation has something larger in store Greg Palkot wanted more from London Greg. How serious is

I talked to the experts that I talked to you today in South Korea are scratching their heads they use the word. Aggressive very aggressive because it's not just these missile launches but a lot of other activities other missile launches nuclear tests they snatching the two American journalists you name it. North Korea's trying to get the Obama administration's attention and that there could be replaced in coming up from Kim Jong -- back do

the day what's the bottom line the bottom line is that when North Korea is involved in negotiations. It's better behaved and we have less problems than when it's not in negotiations when it's outside the negotiations. That's when it starts throwing stones and nuclear test missile tests and the like when they have been engaged in negotiations actually. Are often productive they froze their reactor for a decade that during that decade they were not producing new nuclear material for nuclear weapons so. I think it's for the good frankly I think that's where we're going mrs. all atmospherics. For what I think it's probably a done deal which is expected north Koreans will return to the six party talks and that there will be direct US and between negotiations in parallel with that of course now we're dealing with the aftermath of this conflict between North Korea and South Korea -- what do you make what do you make of that. Well you know it could've been an accident but I sorted -- you know you wanna fight the tendency to always assume a master plan. But in this case I think it probably was deliberate. If it is deliberate when you should think of it as just another sort of thing that North Korea does often on the eve of negotiations. It will do something to try to create a crisis thinking that gives it leverage at the barking. Table. And I think if that's what they're trying to do -- our best response is not to overreact. But the state steady. And pursue our golf our goals -- nuclear free peninsula and stability in northeast Asia and I think we should just keep focused on that cannot be distracted by. The fireworks and is it your sense that South Korea will be equally measured in its actions. I think so I mean North Korea South Korean relations. I haven't been great -- last year or so but it's not the only unit that's been that particular we've had other incidents back in 1999. And in 2002. There -- naval incidents in which there were exchanges of gunfire and then a year after those exchanges. Suddenly you start to have agreements and progress toward some sort of stable outcome so. That's the that's what North Korea does that it creates a crisis on the eve of going into some sort negotiation that's the case here. Then ironically this

High alert on the Korean Peninsula today and it could have direct effects here in the United States. It's a complicated situation no doubt would try to break it down forty starting with a skirmishes C yesterday. That's when the North Korean and South Korean ships met up near a disputed maritime border that's west of the two countries. Both each side accused the other crossing the border. South Korea reports that its navy killed one North Korean sailor and nearly destroyed the north shift. Now the south says it's ready to respond to any provocation from the north. A few hours later we learned the Obama administration has decided to send Stephen Bosworth to North Korea as a special envoy. -- job there convince the leaders to return to six party negotiations. On North Korea's nuclear program. In other words talk the north Koreans in the talking. North Korea has been in and out of those negotiations for years now on it's been a two steps forward one step back situation

more later on the same day Monday. Off the east coast of North Korea and then they'd declared a no sales zone to warn ships to stay out of their for the next few days so we don't know. More coming are not based on the date they sit through this no sales zone. But we do another short range missiles these are not capable of going very far. Nowhere nears for instance of Hawaiian Islands or any American territory they are huge concern for the South Koreans . These 75 mile range missiles could easily reached the capital of South Korea's Seoul. And so that very much a huge concern for the South Koreans . But we're not getting any independent confirmation that these missiles were launched one military official in South Korea said he's not terribly concerned because they. Do this fairly frequently although it has been since last July when they fired from long range missiles actually middle range missiles. Intermediate range missiles in July a whole series of those this is the first time since then joked that seems like there of test shots are always tied to the calendar on world events in some way what if what you know about the timing of these particular want. Yeah we don't really know what's in their minds we -- we do know this is kind of odd because the North Korea has suggested just last week they suggested they might be willing once again to join those six party talks. To try to clear up the nuclear question there nuclear program their nuclear ambitions. And so it's a rather odd day secretary of state Hillary Clinton is traveling overseas she's in Europe in NORTHERN IRELAND she said. But this doesn't change our goals at all no matter what Kim Jong Il has in mind we're going to continue she says on this same territory trying. To achieve a nuclear free Korean Peninsula and the Russians for their part expressed bewilderment. They said they don't know why at this point when North Korea mentioning might be willing to join these talks again. That they'd be doing this and South Korea as I said not terribly concerned because they know you you never know what's gonna happen with the north. -- crazy uncle

From North Korea the Communist country firing five short range missiles off its east coast today. These surface to surface missiles with a range of