Tokyo - North Korea may be preparing to test-fire a second ballistic missile, Japan and South Korea warned yesterday, citing intelligence reports. Japan placed warships and military aircraft on alert and warned North Korea against repeating last Monday's test, in which a missile overflew Japan before landing in the Pacific.
Seoul considered staging its first joint military exercises with Tokyo, although Japan appeared cautious. Meanwhile, Mr Kim Jong-Il is to become the official head of state of North Korea before Wednesday next, Russia's ITARTASS news agency quoted North Korea's charge d'affaires in Russia as saying yesterday.