ID :
50332
Fri, 03/13/2009 - 07:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/50332
The shortlink copeid
Russia cautious about sanctioning N. Korea for rocket launch
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, March 12 (Yonhap) -- A top Russian official said Thursday it is too early to talk about whether to impose sanctions on North Korea in case it fires a missile or a rocket carrying a satellite, hinting at the possibility of a rift among regional powers in handling the North's rocket launch.
"Diplomacy is something about reality," Vice Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin,
who serves as Moscow's chief nuclear envoy, told Yonhap News Agency after his
lengthy meetings here with South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and
Seoul's nuclear negotiator, Wi Sung-lac.
"Let us see when things really happen, and then make conclusions and assessment,"
the envoy said. "For now we are facing only some speculation about certain plans
for launching a satellite."
He stressed, "All disputes and all friction should be discussed and resolved
through consultations."
Borodavkin's comments differed from the concerted position of South Korea, the
U.S., and Japan, who say that even if North Korea's rocket carries a satellite,
the launch would violate U.N. Security Resolution 1718. The resolution, adopted
in 2006 after the North's nuclear and missile tests, bans the communist nation
from being involved in any activity related to ballistic missile launches.
Earlier in the day, North Korea announced that it has informed related
international agencies of its plan for a rocket launch.
South Korean officials later confirmed that Pyongyang notified the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) that it will fire the rocket between April 4-8.
"We confirmed that North Korea faxed a copy of a diplomatic letter to the IMO," a
foreign ministry official told reporters, asking not to be named.
The document designates two coordinates as areas to be affected, one in the East
Sea and one in the Pacific, he added.
The rocket's booster will drop into the East Sea between Japan and the Korean
Peninsula, and then its main body will plunge into the Pacific, the official
explained.
Meanwhile, top South Korean nuclear envoy Wi plans to visit Japan to meet his
counterpart, Akitaka Saiki, early next week to discuss a joint countermeasure.
"An exact schedule is under consultation," another ministry official said.
SEOUL, March 12 (Yonhap) -- A top Russian official said Thursday it is too early to talk about whether to impose sanctions on North Korea in case it fires a missile or a rocket carrying a satellite, hinting at the possibility of a rift among regional powers in handling the North's rocket launch.
"Diplomacy is something about reality," Vice Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin,
who serves as Moscow's chief nuclear envoy, told Yonhap News Agency after his
lengthy meetings here with South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and
Seoul's nuclear negotiator, Wi Sung-lac.
"Let us see when things really happen, and then make conclusions and assessment,"
the envoy said. "For now we are facing only some speculation about certain plans
for launching a satellite."
He stressed, "All disputes and all friction should be discussed and resolved
through consultations."
Borodavkin's comments differed from the concerted position of South Korea, the
U.S., and Japan, who say that even if North Korea's rocket carries a satellite,
the launch would violate U.N. Security Resolution 1718. The resolution, adopted
in 2006 after the North's nuclear and missile tests, bans the communist nation
from being involved in any activity related to ballistic missile launches.
Earlier in the day, North Korea announced that it has informed related
international agencies of its plan for a rocket launch.
South Korean officials later confirmed that Pyongyang notified the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) that it will fire the rocket between April 4-8.
"We confirmed that North Korea faxed a copy of a diplomatic letter to the IMO," a
foreign ministry official told reporters, asking not to be named.
The document designates two coordinates as areas to be affected, one in the East
Sea and one in the Pacific, he added.
The rocket's booster will drop into the East Sea between Japan and the Korean
Peninsula, and then its main body will plunge into the Pacific, the official
explained.
Meanwhile, top South Korean nuclear envoy Wi plans to visit Japan to meet his
counterpart, Akitaka Saiki, early next week to discuss a joint countermeasure.
"An exact schedule is under consultation," another ministry official said.
