North Korea analyst Jeffrey Lewis of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in California pointed out satellite images showing increased activity at the Sohae rocket launch site, and noted that the height of the gantry has been increased.
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“The fact that North Korea said it will launch a long-range missile following its nuclear test is a threat to peace on the Korean peninsula and to the world, and should never be tolerated”, Park said. China already appears to be dragging its feet on a response to North Korea’s purported first H-bomb test on January 6.
Mr Abe said he would work with other countries to “strongly demand” North Korea stops its missile launch.
A diplomatic source in Beijing said Wu may return home “empty-handed” after apparently failing to persuade North Korea to drop its plans to launch a long-range rocket.
“We are seriously concerned about that”, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on Wednesday when asked by the press to comment on North Korea’s plans.
Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun also said the South’s military was ramping up its air defence readiness so it was ready to intercept any missile or debris falling in its territory.
South Korea has warned a “severe price” will be paid if the North goes ahead.
North Korea has notified three United Nations agencies that it plans to launch an earth observation satellite as early as Monday, just weeks after its fourth nuclear test.
A number of U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibit North Korea from conducting launches that use ballistic missile technology.
Fleitz said that the Japanese have legitimate concerns about their safety, given the past waywardness of some North Korean rockets, to which North Korea has responded in the past.
China, which dispatched a top official to North Korea this week, echoed the worldwide concerns while Japan has vowed to shoot down any missile that threatened its territory.
China has meanwhile sent a special nuclear envoy to Pyongyang.
Experts suggest the launch may be an attempt by North Korea to improve rocket accuracy, and develop the ability to re-enter the atmosphere with a payload.
While North Korea says it’s putting a satellite into orbit, the launch is viewed by others as a front for a ballistic missile test. US officials have said the same type of rocket used to launch the satellite, could also one day be used to fire a long-range missile.
North Koreans have not been told of the plans so far, according to monitoring of the secretive state.
“I emphasize that South Korea and China are closely communicating on the result of Wu Dawei’s North Korea trip”.
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China’s reluctance to give sanctions more bite has undeniably allowed North Korea to rattle the region by issuing a notification of the upcoming launch.
