Report: China sent launchers to N. Korea

TOKYO, June 14 (UPI) -- China shipped four missile launch vehicles to North Korea in August 2011, a Japanese newspaper reports.

The Asahi Shimbun reported Wednesday the Japanese government learned of the shipment in October from the records of a Cambodian vessel docked in Osaka, Japan.

The four WS51200 launch vehicles were shipped by an arms company under the control of the People's Liberation Army, the report said.

The vehicles appeared to be modified so they could carry China's Dongfeng-31 intercontinental ballistic missiles, which have a range of about 5,000 miles.

Liu Weimin, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, described the report as "inaccurate," the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo said. The Japanese government refused to comment on the report.

Both the U.S. and Japanese governments said they believe the shipment violates the U.N. resolution banning arms sales to North Korea but decided not to press the issue because China is a partner in efforts to curb North Korea's nuclear program, Asahi Shimbun said.