North Korea should abandon its plan to fire a rocket into space, its neighbours South Korea, Japan and China said on Wednesday, after Pyongyang told United Nations agencies that it would carry out a satellite launch later this month.
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A former South Korean foreign minister, the United Nations chief said North Korea’s announcement was “a deeply troubling development” and offered his help to reduce tensions and facilitate dialogue with Pyongyang. South Korea’s presidential official Cho Tae-young warned on Tuesday of “searing consequences” for the North should it push through with the launch. “We hope all sides show restraint and take prudent action to avoid any moves that may increase the tensions on the [Korean] Peninsula”, Lu added.
The U.S. has been pushing for the imposition of sanctions following its January 6 nuclear test. China, the North’s main trading partner and source of economic assistance, has condemned that test, but is more reluctant to impose sanctions.
“A major topic is the bilateral relations between China and North Korea, another one, of course, is the current situation on the Korean Peninsula”.
This week’s there are reports that Seoul will consider closing the Kaesong Industrial Complex if Pyongyang follows through with its planned rocket launch.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter also reportedly said during a trip to the Marine Corps air station in Miramar, California, that the country continues to shore up its defense against a possible North Korean missile attack.
North Korea has informed global organizations that it will launch an observation satellite aboard a rocket between Monday and February 25.
China has meanwhile sent a special nuclear envoy to Pyongyang.
Japan and South Korea – for their part – have raised their suspicion that the rocket launch is actually a long-range ballistic missile test, Business Standard reported.
Japan has put its military on alert to shoot down any rocket that threatens its territory.
The policy analyst shares the view of experts who believe that North Korea’s claim that it will be launching a satellite is a cover for a missile test.
This suggests that the North is preparing for a space launch in coming weeks, according to 38 North, a North Korea-focused Web site run by the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
FILE – People look at a map of the border area between North and South Koreas at the Imjingak Pavilion near the border village of Panmunjom, which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016.
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The United States and China agree that the UN should approve a strong resolution against North Korea. Pyongyang walked away from the six-party talks on its nuclear program in 2008.
