A mock Scud-B missile of North Korea, left, and other South Korean missiles are displayed at the Korea War Memorial Museum in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016.
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The US and its allies have long maintained that North Korea’s satellite launches are veiled tests of its long-range ballistic missile technologies, and Pyongyang has been warned that a rocket launch so soon after its detonation of a nuclear weapon would be seen as further provocation.
The timing couldn’t have appeared worse.
Perhaps the most well-known news to come out of North Korea’s tries at space were its failures: in April of 2012 a three-stage rocket exploded on take-off, and in April of 2009 a rocket that North Korea said was a success was reported by the United States as having fallen into the sea.
“The nuclear test is a far bigger deal for Beijing than the rocket launch, so I don’t expect any tangible shift in China’s perspective, whatever the United States says”, he added.
North Korea last launched a long-range rocket in December, 2012, sending what it described as a communications satellite into orbit.
“If North Korea carries out the launch during the Lunar New Year (on Feb 8), problems could arise between the two Koreas and also with China since China also celebrates the Lunar New Year”, Kim Yeol-su, Professor of worldwide politics at Sungshin Women’s University, said. China already appears to be dragging its feet on a response to North Korea’s purported first H-bomb test on January 6. Given the context, however, it was unclear whether Lu was referring to North Korea, the United States, or both as countries pursuing “selfish gains”.
“Sanctions are not an end in themselves”, Wang said. “The second also was of course (things) related to the current situation on the Korean peninsula”. After expressing regret over the collapse of the Six Party Talks – China’s preferred method for resolving the Korean nuclear issue, Lu effectively blamed the United States for North Korea’s recent nuclear tests.
“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 Korea and Japan on Wednesday echoed USA warnings that a harsh price would be exacted from North Korea if it went ahead with a planned rocket launch just weeks after conducting its fourth nuclear test.
“This argues even more strongly for action by the UN Security Council and the worldwide community to impose… tough additional sanctions”, Russel said.
“Shutting down or pulling out from the Kaesong Industrial Complex completely depends on how North Korea acts”, a Blue House official said.
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China has meanwhile sent a special nuclear envoy to Pyongyang.
