Missile Alert

There are "strong indications" that a North Korean missile test that preceded this weekend's announcement of the death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il was "preplanned" and not tied the dictator's death, a senior defense official told reporters today. The official declined to say whether the Pentagon anticipates North Korea will conduct more tests in the coming days.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, at home in California following a recent trip abroad, spoke this morning via phone for 15 minutes with the South Korean defense minister about the death of Kim Jong Il. Panetta conveyed "the strong commitment of the United States to peninsular stability and to our alliance," said Pentagon Press Secretary George Little, adding, "He made it clear that the United States stands with the Republic of Korea in this time of uncertainty."

Little said both men "agreed that it was critical to remain prudent with respect to all matters related to our security posture there, and pledged to keep one another informed in the coming days."