U.S. still optimistic on strong UNSC response to rocket launch

(ATTN: UPDATES with UNSC meeting, other details throughout)
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, April 9 (Yonhap) -- The United States said Thursday it is optimistic
about securing a "strong and effective" U.N. response to North Korea's rocket
launch despite reluctance from China and Russia.
The comments, made by U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood, came on the
heels of Kim Jong-il's reelection as chairman of North Korea's National Defense
Commission in the first session of the country's new parliament.
The commission is the North's highest governing body, and oversees its
million-man army.
The reelection ended suspicions that Kim's grip on state affairs was loosening
after he reportedly suffered a stroke last summer.
Analysts say North Korea's rocket launch was aimed at consolidating Kim's power
amid rumors of his failing health and the possible nomination of his third and
youngest son, Jong-un, as his successor in another dynastic power transfer.
Kim Jong-il ascended to power in 1994 after the death of his father, Kim Il-sung,
North Korea's founder.
In New York, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice said she had a "productive"
meeting with her counterparts from China, Russia, France, Britain and Japan, but
did not reach an agreement on how to deal with the North's launch of a rocket for
satellite delivery.
Rice said, "Our work continues."
At the end of the meeting with the veto-wielding five permanent council members,
the first since Monday, Japanese ambassador Yukio Takasu also described the
meeting as "productive," saying, "We agreed to meet continuously."
Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shintaro Ito earlier in the day called for "swift
action," saying the rocket launch will serve as a "big test" for the security
council.
The U.S. and its allies suspect the rocket launch was a ballistic missile test in
violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718, adopted in 2006 after North
Korea's missile and nuclear tests.
North Korea says the rocket successfully orbited a communications satellite,
insisting it has been sending signals since Sunday.
U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas, however, told a daily news briefing that the
organization had not been notified of any North Korean satellite.
"As of today, they have not received any information from DPRK under the Outer
Space Treaty nor the registration convention with regard to the launch," Montas
said. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's
official name.
Resolution 1718 bans the North from engaging in any ballistic missile and nuclear
activity, although sanctions have been neglected due to a clause making
implementation voluntary.
The Chinese and Russian ambassadors have been sympathetic to North Korea's claim
to the right to space development, urging those involved to show restraint and
focus on reviving the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament.
"We're still engaged in consultations to try to come up with a strong and
effective response. I do know that these types of discussions on issues of such
importance do take time," said Wood, the U.S. spokesman. "It's not going to be
easy. There are some differences of opinion on how we deal with this question."
Some reports have said the U.S. and its allies may have to settle for a Security
Council chairman's statement or press release expressing regret over North
Korea's rocket launch and calling for stronger implementation of existing
sanctions.
North Korea has threatened to scrap the six-nation denuclearization talks and
hinted it could conduct a second nuclear test should the Security Council take
punitive steps against it.
hdh@yna.co.kr
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