ID :
54044
Mon, 04/06/2009 - 07:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/54044
The shortlink copeid
UNSC ends 1st-day session on N. Korean launch without agreement: sources
NEW YORK, April 5 (Yonhap) -- The United Nations Security Council Sunday failed to agree on how to deal with North Korea's launch of a rocket in violation of a security council resolution, informed sources said.
The 15 member states of the security council could not come to an agreement in
the three-hour closed-door session, the sources said, adding the council will
convene again Monday.
The meeting, held at the request of Japan less than 24 hours after the North's
launch of what it says was a communications satellite, came amid differing
positions between the U.S. and its allies and China and Russia.
The U.S. says no satellite was orbited and views the launch as a cover to test
the North's ballistic missile capability.
Hours before the session began, Washington's ambassador to the U.N., Susan Rice,
told an ABC television program that the U.S. will "try to get the most
appropriate and strong response we can possibly get."
China and Russia, which have veto power in the council, have urged restraint by
all parties concerned and have expressed sympathy for North Korea's claim that it
has the right to develop a peaceful space program.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in a statement in Beijing that all
parties concerned should "avoid taking actions that could make the situation even
more tense."
Russia's Foreign Ministry earlier in the day also called on "all involved states
to show restraint."
Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert of France, which also holds veto power, joined
with the U.S. in condemning the launch, telling reporters just before entering
the session that he expected "the council to unanimously condemn what has
happened and respond to this provocation and violation of international law."
Ambassador Yukio Takasu of Japan, among 10 nonpermanent council members, said
that the rocket launch "is clearly a sign of tensions and a threat to
international peace and security."
Japan has been the most critical of the North's launch of its rocket, which flew
above Japanese airspace, and threatened to shoot down any debris falling into the
populous island state. No debris fell and Japan took no such action.
The first stage of the rocket fell into waters in the East Sea between Korea and
Japan and the second and third stages together splashed into waters off Hawaii
without reaching space, the Pentagon said.
North Korea claimed, however, that the rocket successfully put a satellite into
orbit.
Ambassador Park In-kook of South Korea appeared at the venue for the council
meeting before the session began, although his country is not a council member.
Park said his government wanted "a rapid and enormous response from the security
council."
It took several days for the security council to adopt Resolution 1718 against
North Korea after the detonation of its first nuclear device in 2006.
The resolution bans any ballistic and nuclear activity by North Korea and
prohibits member states from trading in weapons and weapons parts, as well as
luxury goods with the reclusive communist state.
Sanctions imposed under the resolution, however, were rendered largely
ineffective by China, which inserted a clause allowing member states to implement
the sanctions at their own discretion.
Experts say the council will likely seek a stronger implementation of the
existing sanctions rather than adopting a new resolution.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
The 15 member states of the security council could not come to an agreement in
the three-hour closed-door session, the sources said, adding the council will
convene again Monday.
The meeting, held at the request of Japan less than 24 hours after the North's
launch of what it says was a communications satellite, came amid differing
positions between the U.S. and its allies and China and Russia.
The U.S. says no satellite was orbited and views the launch as a cover to test
the North's ballistic missile capability.
Hours before the session began, Washington's ambassador to the U.N., Susan Rice,
told an ABC television program that the U.S. will "try to get the most
appropriate and strong response we can possibly get."
China and Russia, which have veto power in the council, have urged restraint by
all parties concerned and have expressed sympathy for North Korea's claim that it
has the right to develop a peaceful space program.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in a statement in Beijing that all
parties concerned should "avoid taking actions that could make the situation even
more tense."
Russia's Foreign Ministry earlier in the day also called on "all involved states
to show restraint."
Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert of France, which also holds veto power, joined
with the U.S. in condemning the launch, telling reporters just before entering
the session that he expected "the council to unanimously condemn what has
happened and respond to this provocation and violation of international law."
Ambassador Yukio Takasu of Japan, among 10 nonpermanent council members, said
that the rocket launch "is clearly a sign of tensions and a threat to
international peace and security."
Japan has been the most critical of the North's launch of its rocket, which flew
above Japanese airspace, and threatened to shoot down any debris falling into the
populous island state. No debris fell and Japan took no such action.
The first stage of the rocket fell into waters in the East Sea between Korea and
Japan and the second and third stages together splashed into waters off Hawaii
without reaching space, the Pentagon said.
North Korea claimed, however, that the rocket successfully put a satellite into
orbit.
Ambassador Park In-kook of South Korea appeared at the venue for the council
meeting before the session began, although his country is not a council member.
Park said his government wanted "a rapid and enormous response from the security
council."
It took several days for the security council to adopt Resolution 1718 against
North Korea after the detonation of its first nuclear device in 2006.
The resolution bans any ballistic and nuclear activity by North Korea and
prohibits member states from trading in weapons and weapons parts, as well as
luxury goods with the reclusive communist state.
Sanctions imposed under the resolution, however, were rendered largely
ineffective by China, which inserted a clause allowing member states to implement
the sanctions at their own discretion.
Experts say the council will likely seek a stronger implementation of the
existing sanctions rather than adopting a new resolution.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
