South Korean news agency sees the move as a sign of easing tension, but the Pentagon talks of "break in the provocation." South Korean President to meet Obama later today.

Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - North Korea has removed two medium-range missiles Musdan (pictured), from their current launch pad locations on the coast following repeated threats to launch them against South Korea and U.S. bases in the Pacific. The move was reported by a defense official and was confirmed by South Korea's Yonhap news agency in a statement, according to which Pyongyang seems to have lowered its alert level.

The move was then seen by Seoul as a sign of easing tension, but a senior official at the National Security Council threw water on the fire, arguing that "it is premature to talk about good news." For its part, the Pentagon spokesman, George Little, while refusing comment on the movement of the missiles, now in an unknown location, spoke of a "break in provocations."

The missiles had been moved to the coast at the end of April, as part of the communist regime's threats following new sanctions imposed by the United Nations in March, after North Korea's third nuclear test. Pyongyang is calling for their withdrawal, along with the end of the regular joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington.

President of South Korea, Park Geun-hye is currently on a tour of the United States and is scheduled to meet with Barack Obama later today, a meeting expected to confirm existing close relations between the two countries.

 

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