The statement approved by all 15 council members underscored that launches using ballistic missile technology, “even if characterized as a satellite launch or space launch vehicle” contribute to North Korea’s development of systems to deliver nuclear weapons.
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Some experts questioned how effective THAAD would be against the type of long-range rocket launched by North Korea and the Pentagon concedes it has yet to be tested against such a device. This was confirmed by South Korea, saying that the rocket, also named Kwangmyongsong-4, left an object in space. The Pentagon, South Korea and the U.N. Security Council strongly condemned the act.
The liftoff occurred from the Sohae launch facility in western North Korea at 7:29 p.m. EST Saturday (Feb. 6; 0029 GMT and 8:59 a.m. local North Korean time on Sunday, Feb. 7), according to a media advisory from the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM).
Hours after North Korea’s long-range rocket launch yesterday, South Korean and USA military officials announced they would begin formal discussions on placing the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence System (THAAD) on the North’s doorstep. We will ensure that the Security Council imposes serious consequences.
The United States and other nations widely viewed the deployment of the dual-use technology as a front to test a ballistic missile, especially coming on the heels of a purported hydrogen bomb test last month.
“This is a system that would be focused – a defensive system put into place to deal with the threat posed by North Korea in addition to the layered missile defense that we have already put in place”, he said.
While it only managed a rather muted expression of “regret” over the North’s rocket launch, it was quick to voice its “deep concern” at the prospect of South Korea introducing the USA missile system.
Ties have significantly improved as a result but, on the key issue of dealing with North Korea, Park’s diplomatic initiative has not achieved the desired results. A US official said it might take days to assess whether the launch was a success.
South Korea fired warning shots Monday morning after a North Korean patrol boat crossed the maritime border between the Koreas, the South Korean Defense Ministry said.
But Park Chang-kwon, a senior research fellow at the state-run Korea Institute for Defense Analyses in Seoul, said South Korea would draw ridicule for not beefing up its defense in the face of an increasing threat.
“And clearly there’s a danger there, because unless China and the U.S. can get on the same page with a common approach to North Korea, there won’t be any progress and the situation will only get worse”, Carroll said.
“But if anything, it would be China’s implementation of existing sanctions that would tighten the screws on North Korea”.
According to experts, North Korea has at least a dozen and perhaps as many as 100 nuclear weapons, though at present it lacks sophisticated delivery mechanisms.
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Russian Federation stressed the importance of diplomacy in defusing the tension in northeast Asia during the call, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
