The satellite North Korea fired into space on Sunday is “tumbling in orbit” and incapable of functioning in any useful way, a senior USA defense official told CNN.
Advertisement
North Korea launched a rocket (containing a satellite) into space.
A metal object believed to be a part of North Korean long range rocket launched Sunday is seen in this undated handout picture provided by South Korean Defense Ministry and released Tuesday by Yonhap news agency.
The country is banned from rocket launches using any ballistic missile technologies, according to multiple UN Security Council resolutions. The council is meeting about North Korea’s successful launch of a long-range missile.
North Korea, through its state-run media, claimed the rocket launch was a “peaceful” attempt to put a satellite into orbit.
The Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Ministry “strongly condemned” the launching of an intercontinental ballistic missile by North Korea this past weekend.
“If the THAAD system were deployed to the Korean Peninsula, it would be focused exclusively on North Korea, contribute to a layered missile defence that would enhance the alliance’s existing missile-defence capabilities against potential North Korean missile threats”, he said.
“This (rocket launch) is a serious provocation that poses tremendous threat to the peace and safety of Japan and the region, as well as the worldwide society”, it said.
North Korea have also restarted the production of plutonium this week.
In response, Abe said Japan is preparing ways to apply its own sanctions against the North.
In response, Park said that substantial steps must be taken by the worldwide community to make North Korea clearly understand that its nuclear development and economic advancement can not, by any means, succeed.
Concerns have been mounting that the North is edging closer to being able to fire long-range nuclear missiles, but China and Russian Federation – both of whom have the power of veto at the UN Security Council – have expressed opposition to tougher sanctions against the already isolated state.
Wary of creating a refugee crisis should Kim’s regime collapse, China has been unwilling to implement sanctions that would really put a choke on North Korea’s economy.
Advertisement
The Pentagon said Monday that talks with South Korea to discuss the possibility of moving a terminal high-altitude area defense, or THAAD system, would begin in days.
