News of Pyongyang’s launch plan emerged this week after it sent notices to two United Nations agencies informing them of its intention to launch an earth observation satellite between February 8 and February 25, between 7 a.m. and midday local time. Japan has already deployed Patriot missile batteries in Tokyo and on the southern island of Okinawa to shoot down any debris from the rocket that might threaten to fall on Japanese territory.
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Though North Korea says it is putting a satellite into orbit, the launch is viewed by others as a front for a ballistic missile test.
Pyongyang has announced it will launch a satellite-bearing rocket sometime between February 8 to25, which is around the time of the birth anniversary on February 16 of late leader Kim Jong-Il, father of current supremo Kim Jong-Un.
Coming so soon after North Korea’s fourth nuclear test on January 6, a rocket launch would raise concern that it plans to fit nuclear warheads on its missiles, giving it the capability to strike South Korea, Japan and possibly the US West Coast.
“Forcing the launch is a clear violation against the [United Nations Security Council] resolution and a serious provocation against the security to our country”, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday.
An official from the Korea Meteorological Administration, South Korea’s weather agency, said that rain or snow was expected in the North Korean region where the launch pad is located on Monday, Thursday and next Saturday.
On Friday, US President Barack Obama spoke by telephone with President Xi Jinping of China, North Korea’s main ally and neighbour, and agreed that a North Korean launch would represent a “provocative and destabilizing action”, the White House said.
Citing US government sources, the Britain’s mirror.co.uk reported that North Korea may fire an explosive device as early as Sunday. United condemnation has come from the global community amid fears that similar technology can be used for missile launches. Based on coordinates provided by North Korea to the IMO, the first stage and fairing of the rocket will drop off in waters between South Korea and China.
Isolated North Korea says it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme.
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About a fortnight ago, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had claimed that he had the ability to destroy the United States in one fell swoop.
