The Yomiuri ShimbunThe worldwide community must stand united and ratchet up the pressure on North Korea to deter that nation from advancing its nuclear and missile programs. Given the context, however, it was unclear whether Lu was referring to North Korea, the United States, or both as countries pursuing “selfish gains”.
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“It is my pleasure to inform you of the decision of the government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to launch earth observation satellite “Kwangmyongsong” pursuant to the national space development program”, said Jon Ki Chol, director-general of North Korea’s Maritime Administration.
South Korean Presidential security adviser Cho Tae Yong said the regime would pay a “severe price” if it launches a long-range rocket as the move threatens the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and beyond.
Another successful launch will likely intensify debate in the USA and South Korea on how to tackle the missile threat, potentially increasing tension with China, North Korea’s only major ally.
A multiple rocket launcher during an exercise in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on July 15.
Those locations are expected to be in the Yellow Sea off the Korean peninsula west coast and in the Pacific Ocean to the east of the Philippines, Pyongyang said.
“I emphasize that South Korea and China are closely communicating on the result of Wu Dawei’s North Korea trip”.
Lu’s comments come as U.S. diplomats are urging China to use its political and economic influence with North Korea to compel it to stop such actions.
Russian Federation has also warned North Korea that by proceeding with the rocket launch, it would be escalating tensions in Northeast Asia.
The only solution, Park argued, was to impose sanctions harsh enough “to make it realise that it will not survive unless it gives up its nuclear programme”.
The Reuters report quoted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as telling Japanese lawmakers “this will effectively mean the firing of a ballistic missile”.
“This act would violate numerous Security Council resolutions by utilizing proscribed ballistic missile technology”, U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said at a briefing in Washington.
The prospect of a missile launch has sparked widespread condemnation, as the United Nations deliberates a fresh round of sanctions in response to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test early last month.
Pyongyang last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, which it also described as a communications satellite.
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According to the coordinates the North provided to global agencies, its multi-stage rocket, if it is fired from the northwestern Dongchang-ri launch site, will initially fly over the West Sea, drop the first stage there, and pass over the East China Sea before shedding the second stage in the Philippine Sea.
