N. Korea to 'closely watch' int'l reaction to S. Korean rocket launch

SEOUL, Aug. 10 (Yonhap) -- North Korea warned Monday that it will "closely watch"
how regional countries react to South Korea's imminent launch of a space rocket,
claiming it has been unfairly punished for conducting its own launch.

"We will closely watch if the above-said parties will also refer South Korea's
satellite launch to the UNSC," the North's foreign ministry spokesman said.
"Their reaction and attitude towards South Korea's satellite launch will once
again clearly prove whether the principle of equality exists or has collapsed,"
the unidentified spokesman said in a report carried by the official Korean
Central News Agency.
South Korea plans to launch its first space rocket within the month following
clarification on a technical issue discovered in the engine. The launch was
originally scheduled for July 30, but was pushed back to Aug. 11 and again
postponed following the discovery of the technical problem.
North Korea launched a long-range rocket carrying a satellite in April, which was
condemned by regional countries as a disguised test for its missile technology.
While Pyongyang claimed the satellite successfully entered orbit, outside
monitors say no such object had been detected in space.
The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution imposing financial and
other sanctions over the North Korean launch. North Korea retaliated by
withdrawing from the six-party denuclearization talks, also involving South
Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia.
In May, Pyongyang conducted a nuclear test, prompting the U.N. council to
intensify existing sanctions with a new resolution.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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