The United States has warned of “serious consequences” after North Korea launched a long-rang rocket on Sunday morning, in defiance of global sanctions banning it from using ballistic missile technology and doubling down against an worldwide community already determined to punish Pyongyang for a nuclear test last month.
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President Park Geun-hye convened an emergency meeting of the national security council, and Seoul’s foreign ministry requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss countermeasures.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called it “absolutely unacceptable”, saying it was a “clear violation” of UN Security Council resolutions.
Asked how he would respond to North Korea’s provocations, Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said he would authorize a pre-emptive strike against such rockets if it was necessary to keep America safe.
North Korea’s neighbours, especially archrivals South Korea and Japan, have been watching the build-up to the test with alarm.
The Inquisitr reported recently that fuel trucks had been deployed at the launch site in North Korea in what was alleged to be the launch of a satellite. The US Strategic Command also detected and tracked the missile launch into space, Reuters reports.
United States military officials have said the sophisticated system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) was needed in South Korea, which faces the threat of an increasingly advanced North Korean missile programme.
John Kerry, American Secretary of State, described it as a “provocation” and “destabilising” to peace. Six-nation negotiations on dismantling North Korea’s nuclear program in exchange for aid fell apart in early 2009.
He added: “We will take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people”.
North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons.
North Korea’s official news agency, KCNA, called the launch a “complete success” and said it marked a major advance in “developing the country’s science, technology, economy and defense capability by legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes”.
North Korea says it was a space launch vehicle (SLV) carrying an Earth observation satellite.
Recent commercial satellite imagery analyzed by USA researchers showed tanker trucks at the launch pad at North Korea’s Sohae facility, which likely indicates the filling of fuel and oxidizer tanks in preparation for the launch, The Associated Press reported.
While infuriated by North Korea’s refusal to curb its nuclear ambitions, China’s overriding concern is avoiding a collapse of the regime in Pyongyang and the possibility of a US-allied unified Korea on its border.
The launch was also condemned by the US administration, with National Security Advisor Susan Rice stressing that it violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
The rocket launch came about a month after what Pyongyang claimed was its first H-bomb test on January 6.
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The rocket was launched at around 9:30 a.m. Seoul time (0030 GMT) in a southward trajectory, as planned.
