U.N. Security Council blasts Pyongyang, calls emergency meeting
The U.S., South Korea and Japan were quick to condemn North Korea’s rocket launch, which they see as a test of technology needed to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile that could one day threaten the U.S.
Even China, North Korea’s closest ally, expressed “regret” that North Korea went ahead with the launch “in spite of the extensive concerns of international community,” said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei.
The White House called it a “highly provocative act that threatens regional security.”
The U.N. Security Council was to hold closed-door consultations on the launch Wednesday, according to the U.N. Mission for Morocco, which holds the rotating council presidency.
The U.N. Security Council has imposed sanctions against North Korea over its ballistic missile and nuclear programs.
“We express regret at (North Korea’s) launch in spite of the extensive concerns of the international community,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters Wednesday:
Hong said China “believes U.N. Security Council reaction should be prudent and moderate and conducive to maintaining stability and avoiding escalation of the situation.”
The European Union threatened fresh sanctions against North Korea, condemning its launch as a violation of international law.
“The EU will consider an appropriate response, in close consultation with key partners... including possible additional restrictive measures,” foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. warned North Korea’s “highly provocative” launch would destabilize the region and further isolate Pyongyang from the world community.
The launch marks “yet another example of North Korea’s pattern of irresponsible behavior,” White House National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement.
Washington and its allies have long insisted such launches are disguised tests for an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
“Given this current threat to regional security, the United States will strengthen and increase our close coordination with allies and partners,” Vietor said.
“North Korea is only further isolating itself by engaging in such provocative acts. Devoting scarce resources to the development of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons has not brought it security and acceptance by the international community ― and never will,” he added.
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen called on the regime to respect its international obligations.
“This provocative act exacerbates tensions in the region and risks further destabilizing the Korean peninsula,” he said in a statement.
A previous launch of the same Unha-3 rocket in April had ended in failure, with the carrier exploding shortly after take-off.
In 2006, the Security Council imposed an embargo against North Korea on arms and material for ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction.
It also banned imports of luxury goods and named individuals and companies as subject to a global assets freeze and travel ban.
In 2009, the Security Council imposed a ban on North Korea’s weapons exports and ordered all countries to search suspect shipments.
According to Japanese reports, Japan, the United States and South Korea have agreed to demand the Security Council strengthen sanctions on North Korea to match those on Iran.
That would include increasing the list of financial institutions, entities and individuals subject to asset freezes.
Much will depend on the stance taken by U.N. veto holder China, North Korea’s sole major ally and its biggest trade partner and aid provider.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said “The Secretary-General deplores the rocket launch announced by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea),“ Ban’s spokesman Martin Nesirky said in a statement.
”It is a clear violation of Security Council resolution1874, in which the Council demanded that the DPRK not conduct any launch using ballistic missile technology,“ the statement said.
(From news reports)
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
