| Japan has launched its third spy | | | | "The United States is not the target," |
| satellite into orbit. Like the first | | | | Quinones says. "It's here, Japan. You've |
| two, this one is intended primarily to | | | | got U.S. military bases here. You've got |
| monitor activities in North Korea. | | | | the world economy here, world |
| Prior to 1998, Japan had held back on | | | | communications. You want to shake up the |
| intelligence gathering from space. It | | | | international community, aim for Tokyo, |
| was worried about violating its pacifist | | | | or anyplace in Japan." |
| constitution, and relied instead on | | | | Reports that North Korea might be |
| information from U.S. spy satellites. | | | | preparing to detonate a nuclear weapon |
| But North Korea fired a ballistic | | | | are only speculative, but Washington and |
| missile over Japan in 1998, and the mood | | | | other governments have warned against |
| here changed. The Japanese government | | | | any such test. |
| began its own spy satellite program to | | | | U.S. Assistant Secretary of State |
| watch over its unpredictable neighbor. | | | | Christopher Hill is in charge of the |
| Those same concerns were in evidence | | | | stalled negotiations over Pyongyang's |
| Monday afternoon as Japan launched its | | | | nuclear programs. In China on Monday, |
| third spy satellite. There have been | | | | Hill said a North Korean nuclear test |
| signs that North Korea might be | | | | would be "a very provocative act." |
| preparing to test-fire more missiles, as | | | | However, Kenneth Quinones, now head of |
| it did in early July, or to set off a | | | | global studies at Japan's Akita |
| test nuclear explosion. | | | | International University, advises |
| The Japanese satellite went into orbit | | | | against putting too much pressure on the |
| aboard a rocket launched from the | | | | North Korean regime of Kim Jong Il. |
| Tanegashima Space Center in southern | | | | Quinones says Kim has to meet the |
| Japan. The launch had been scheduled for | | | | expectations of his own generals, and |
| Sunday, but was delayed because of | | | | predicts Pyongyang will become even more |
| weather conditions. | | | | aggressive if pushed too hard. |
| Government officials say the optical | | | | "The more the international pressures |
| satellite will give Japan the ability to | | | | you assert on Kim Jong Il, the more |
| monitor any point on the planet once a | | | | prone he is to act exactly as you don't |
| day. Japanese satellites have lower | | | | want him to," Quinones says. "He has got |
| resolution than the U.S. versions, but | | | | to show his generals that he is just as |
| reportedly can still see items that are | | | | brave as his father and that he is not |
| quite small. | | | | going to bow to us, the 'imperialists." |
| Kenneth Quinones, a former North Korea | | | | Quinones suggests that Washington should |
| expert with the U.S. State Department, | | | | let Beijing take the lead in negotiating |
| says Japan has good reason to be | | | | with the North Koreans. China, he |
| concerned about North Korea's nuclear | | | | notes, has two thousand years of |
| activities. | | | | experience in dealing with its neighbor. |