North Korea is reportedly gearing up to fire the long-range Taepodong 2 ballistic missile, which is capable of hitting part of the mainland United States.
The reports follow North Korea's refusal to resume the six-party talks on its nuclear-arms development until the U.S. lifts the financial sanctions it imposed on entities suspected of laundering money for the North. Furthermore, Tokyo and Washington have begun to apply increasing pressure on Pyongyang in connection with its abduction of foreign nationals and issues involving defectors from the North.
Pyongyang's threat to fire the missile obviously represents a move to unnerve Tokyo and Washington. But if North Korea fired the missile, it would betray the trust of the international community by contravening the 1999 agreement with the U.S. that placed a moratorium on Pyongyang's launch of ballistic missiles and the 2002 Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration, which committed the North to maintaining the freeze.