The Pentagon confirmed Monday that North Korea has successfully launched a satellite or similar device into orbit, as the USA and its allies weigh how to respond to the provocative act.
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Reuters reported that South Korea and the United States said they would explore whether to deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea “at the earliest possible date”.
In response, Obama stressed the importance of a resolution to impose sanctions on North Korea, saying that North Korea’s missile launch and nuclear test are provocations and violate Security Council resolutions.
Hyon Hak Bong was told by Britain’s Asia minister that the United Kingdom condemned the test “in the strongest terms” as it amounted to a “deliberate violation” of UN Security Council resolutions. He said, however, that he would leave characterizing how successful that was to the North Koreans.
The official said Washington and Beijing remained in close touch on how to respond to North Korea. The Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite entered orbit nine minutes and 46 seconds after the liftoff, an operation “great leader Kim Jong Un personally ordered and directed”, the TV announcer said.
North Korea said it launched a satellite for peaceful purposes, but the US and allies say it was a ballistic missile test that threatens the USA and ally South Korea. China has been playing North Korea’s diplomatic protector so far, thus helping the North evade severe punishment.
The likely THAAD deployment, which also came a month after the DPRK conducted its fourth nuclear test, is detrimental to the efforts to solve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula as it is likely to trigger an arms race in the troubled region.
“However, we need more analysis to determine the capacity, including its exact range”, a defense ministry spokesman told AFP.
Shortly after North Korea’s long-range missile launch Sunday, South Korea and the USA announced they would launch formal consultations on the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to the South to better defend against the North’s nuclear and missile threats.
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North Korea launched a rocket (containing a satellite) into space.
