ID :
47854
Fri, 02/27/2009 - 07:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/47854
The shortlink copeid
N. Korea vows to enforce satellite launch, citing Iran's case
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has rejected international warnings and said "no one can stop us" from a planned satellite launch, citing Iran's recent successful launch of a satellite into orbit.
"The peaceful advance into space and its use is a just policy of our republic
that matches with the current times, and no one can stop us from this," the
North's state-run radio Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) said Wednesday
night.
North Korea said on Tuesday it plans to launch an "experimental communications
satellite" into orbit as part of its space development program.
While the North insists it is a satellite launch, intelligence sources in the
United States and South Korea believe it could be a long-distance missile called
Taepodong-2 that in theory can reach the U.S. western coast.
In the statement titled "Everyone is entitled to the right to peaceful space
use," the North said Iran's satellite launch "demonstrated its national power"
and proved that "monopoly can no longer exist" in space development. Iran
launched the Omid (hope) on Feb. 3 that was carried by an Iranian-made rocket.
Its previous launch in August last year is believed by U.S. officials to have
been a failure.
Experts say North Korea and Iran have jointly developed their missile program. A
Seoul analyst, requesting anonymity, said several Iranian technicians visited
North Korea to observe North Korea's 2006 test-launch of a long-range missile,
which failed 40 seconds after blastoff.
South Korea and the U.S. view North Korea's satellite activity as a threat, as
putting a satellite into orbit involves technology development also used in
advancing long-range missile system. The U.S. called Iran's recent launch, early
this month a "grave concern."
"The United States and Western countries are fussing around in chorus, saying
Iran's satellite launch through a carrier rocket was to develop ballistic missile
technology," the KCBS said, but Iran "is showing its will to actively push itself
into the competition for space development."
It cited many developing countries like Vietnam, India, Thailand, Belarus and
Venezuela running their own space program, saying North Korea is also entitled to
a space program as a member of the international community.
"The peaceful advance into space and its use is a just policy of our republic
that matches with the current times, and no one can stop us from this," the
North's state-run radio Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) said Wednesday
night.
North Korea said on Tuesday it plans to launch an "experimental communications
satellite" into orbit as part of its space development program.
While the North insists it is a satellite launch, intelligence sources in the
United States and South Korea believe it could be a long-distance missile called
Taepodong-2 that in theory can reach the U.S. western coast.
In the statement titled "Everyone is entitled to the right to peaceful space
use," the North said Iran's satellite launch "demonstrated its national power"
and proved that "monopoly can no longer exist" in space development. Iran
launched the Omid (hope) on Feb. 3 that was carried by an Iranian-made rocket.
Its previous launch in August last year is believed by U.S. officials to have
been a failure.
Experts say North Korea and Iran have jointly developed their missile program. A
Seoul analyst, requesting anonymity, said several Iranian technicians visited
North Korea to observe North Korea's 2006 test-launch of a long-range missile,
which failed 40 seconds after blastoff.
South Korea and the U.S. view North Korea's satellite activity as a threat, as
putting a satellite into orbit involves technology development also used in
advancing long-range missile system. The U.S. called Iran's recent launch, early
this month a "grave concern."
"The United States and Western countries are fussing around in chorus, saying
Iran's satellite launch through a carrier rocket was to develop ballistic missile
technology," the KCBS said, but Iran "is showing its will to actively push itself
into the competition for space development."
It cited many developing countries like Vietnam, India, Thailand, Belarus and
Venezuela running their own space program, saying North Korea is also entitled to
a space program as a member of the international community.
