Besides the United States and South Korea, condemnation for the launch also came from Japan.
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“We urge North Korea to fully comply with its obligations under the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions without delay”, the statement said.
“If it can communicate with the Kwangmyongsong-4, North Korea will learn about operating a satellite in space”, said David Wright, co-director and senior scientist at the Global Security Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists.
China, North Korea’s most powerful ally, backed the statement, as did the other 14 council members during an emergency meeting. “Our respect for China’s role and the necessity of China playing a constructive role here, I think is reflected in all of the high-level engagements…So we are hopeful that China, like all Council Members, will see the grave threat to regional worldwide peace and security – see the importance of adopting tough unprecedented measures”, she said.
North Korea’s launching of a long-range rocket Sunday was declared a success by the reclusive state, as countries around the world condemned the operation.
South Korea’s presidential office announced Monday that the country was on high alert to detect further provocations from rival North Korea, which fired a long-range rocket Sunday that could be used to mount a nuclear warhead.
The launch was also condemned by the USA administration, with National Security Advisor Susan Rice stressing that it violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
“North Korea describes the launch as part of its space program: a rocket carrying an earth observation satellite into orbit”. The U.S. and China had began discussing a United Nations sanctions resolutions following that test.
In January, Pyongyang carried out its latest nuclear test explosion, and yesterday it launched a ballistic missile.
He also reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad commitment to the defence of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan”.
Obama pointed to his conversation last week with China’s President Xi Jinping, telling CBS he told the Chinese leader “about the need to really tighten the noose on” North Korea.
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There have been several bloody naval skirmishes around the Northern Limit Line, which is regularly patrolled by South Korea.
