ID :
54003
Mon, 04/06/2009 - 07:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/54003
The shortlink copeid
N. Korea tries satellite launch, success unconfirmed
SEOUL, April 5 (Yonhap) -- North Korea claimed Sunday to have successfully put a satellite into orbit on an indigenously developed space rocket, but South Korea's top diplomat was cautious about substantiating the claim reminiscent of North's announcement after a 1998 missile launch.
"For now, North Korea appears to have attempted a satellite launch, but
additional assessment is needed to conclude whether it was a success or not,"
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said at a press briefing after a series of phone
talks with his American, Chinese, and Japanese counterparts.
He said all the ministers expressed understanding over South Korea's concern
about the negative impact from the North's long-range rocket launch carried out
earlier in the day.
The 15-member U.N. Security Council will meet at 4 a.m. Monday (Seoul time) to
discuss the issue, he added.
"I can't contain disappointment at North Korea's provocative act which is not
helpful at all to the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula and the
Northeast Asian region as well as progress in the six-way talks (on Pyongyang's
nuclear program)," the minister said.
Pyongyang earlier declared a successful satellite launch.
"Scientists and technicians of the DPRK (North Korea) have succeeded in putting
satellite Kwangmyongsong-2, an experimental communications satellite, into orbit
by means of carrier rocket Unha-2 under the state long-term plan for the
development of outer space," the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency
(KCNA) said.
South Korean officials said the North's rocket launch was tantamount to an
intercontinental ballistic missile test, as the two use the same technology.
North Korea is banned from being involved in any activity linked to ballistic
missile program under the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718 adopted after the
secretive nation's nuclear and long-range missile tests in 2006.
South Korea put its military on high alert shortly after the launch.
South Korea, the U.S., and Japan are expected to push for sanctions under the
existing resolution, while the positions of the North's traditional allies China
and Russia remain uncertain.
In Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama described the North's rocket as a
"Taepodong-2 missile," and made clear that the launch will be subject to
sanctions under the U.N. resolution adopted in 2006.
"With this provocative act, North Korea has ignored its international
obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated
itself from the community of nations," Obama said in a statement.
The North's launch also set off alarm bells over concerns about its ability to
mount nuclear warheads on its missiles. South Korea said that the first stage of
the rocket splashed down in waters near Japan's northwestern coast and the second
stage fell into the Pacific Ocean, though it refrained from saying whether a
satellite entered orbit.
Sunday's launch, widely viewed as at least partially successful, could prove the
North has developed, or is well capable of developing, a long-range missile with
U.S. territory in its striking range. North Korea is believed to possess several
nuclear bombs, although questions remain about its ability to miniaturize them
for use as warheads.
China cautioned the international community against overreaction.
"We hope related parties stay calm and exercise restraint... and together
maintain peace and stability in this region," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang
Yu said in a statement.
Russia supported North Korea's claim that it would not fire a ballistic missile.
"No missile has been launched and none is going to be launched," Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying by Moscow's main news agency.
Meanwhile, the Japanese government announced that it will extend existing
sanctions on North Korea for a year.
North Korea watchers agreed that the North's provocative action appears to have
multiple purposes, including drawing the attention of the Obama administration
and solidifying internal unity.
"Countries with this sort of political system usually show more hard-line
external behavior when there are internal leadership problems," said Victor Cha,
professor at Georgetown University who served as Asia director of the National
Security Council under the Bush administration. "That is at least what the
history of international relations tells us... this could be a manifestation of
political fluidity in the North."
Koh Yu-hwan, professor at Seoul-based Dongkuk University, said the North was
seeking "comprehensive negotiations," including on missile and nuclear programs,
with the U.S.
The U.S. president said in his latest statement that his administration will
continue work to denuclearize North Korea through the six-party talks, now
stalled over ways to inspect the North's nuclear sites.
North Korea claimed in 1998 that it had planced a Kwangmyongsong-1 satellite into
orbit, which has never been confirmed. The U.S. and its allies said it was a
long-range missile test.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
"For now, North Korea appears to have attempted a satellite launch, but
additional assessment is needed to conclude whether it was a success or not,"
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said at a press briefing after a series of phone
talks with his American, Chinese, and Japanese counterparts.
He said all the ministers expressed understanding over South Korea's concern
about the negative impact from the North's long-range rocket launch carried out
earlier in the day.
The 15-member U.N. Security Council will meet at 4 a.m. Monday (Seoul time) to
discuss the issue, he added.
"I can't contain disappointment at North Korea's provocative act which is not
helpful at all to the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula and the
Northeast Asian region as well as progress in the six-way talks (on Pyongyang's
nuclear program)," the minister said.
Pyongyang earlier declared a successful satellite launch.
"Scientists and technicians of the DPRK (North Korea) have succeeded in putting
satellite Kwangmyongsong-2, an experimental communications satellite, into orbit
by means of carrier rocket Unha-2 under the state long-term plan for the
development of outer space," the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency
(KCNA) said.
South Korean officials said the North's rocket launch was tantamount to an
intercontinental ballistic missile test, as the two use the same technology.
North Korea is banned from being involved in any activity linked to ballistic
missile program under the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718 adopted after the
secretive nation's nuclear and long-range missile tests in 2006.
South Korea put its military on high alert shortly after the launch.
South Korea, the U.S., and Japan are expected to push for sanctions under the
existing resolution, while the positions of the North's traditional allies China
and Russia remain uncertain.
In Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama described the North's rocket as a
"Taepodong-2 missile," and made clear that the launch will be subject to
sanctions under the U.N. resolution adopted in 2006.
"With this provocative act, North Korea has ignored its international
obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated
itself from the community of nations," Obama said in a statement.
The North's launch also set off alarm bells over concerns about its ability to
mount nuclear warheads on its missiles. South Korea said that the first stage of
the rocket splashed down in waters near Japan's northwestern coast and the second
stage fell into the Pacific Ocean, though it refrained from saying whether a
satellite entered orbit.
Sunday's launch, widely viewed as at least partially successful, could prove the
North has developed, or is well capable of developing, a long-range missile with
U.S. territory in its striking range. North Korea is believed to possess several
nuclear bombs, although questions remain about its ability to miniaturize them
for use as warheads.
China cautioned the international community against overreaction.
"We hope related parties stay calm and exercise restraint... and together
maintain peace and stability in this region," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang
Yu said in a statement.
Russia supported North Korea's claim that it would not fire a ballistic missile.
"No missile has been launched and none is going to be launched," Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying by Moscow's main news agency.
Meanwhile, the Japanese government announced that it will extend existing
sanctions on North Korea for a year.
North Korea watchers agreed that the North's provocative action appears to have
multiple purposes, including drawing the attention of the Obama administration
and solidifying internal unity.
"Countries with this sort of political system usually show more hard-line
external behavior when there are internal leadership problems," said Victor Cha,
professor at Georgetown University who served as Asia director of the National
Security Council under the Bush administration. "That is at least what the
history of international relations tells us... this could be a manifestation of
political fluidity in the North."
Koh Yu-hwan, professor at Seoul-based Dongkuk University, said the North was
seeking "comprehensive negotiations," including on missile and nuclear programs,
with the U.S.
The U.S. president said in his latest statement that his administration will
continue work to denuclearize North Korea through the six-party talks, now
stalled over ways to inspect the North's nuclear sites.
North Korea claimed in 1998 that it had planced a Kwangmyongsong-1 satellite into
orbit, which has never been confirmed. The U.S. and its allies said it was a
long-range missile test.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
