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Roundup: DPRK's failed satellite launch draws int'l concerns, condemnation
BEIJING, Apr 13, 2012 (Xinhua via COMTEX) --
The failed satellite launch by
the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) early Friday has
prompted international concerns, with Washington and Seoul
condemning the act as a violation of UN resolutions and a threat
to regional stability.
"Despite the failure of its attempted missile launch, North
Korea's provocative action threatens regional security, violates
international law and contravenes its own recent commitments,"
White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement.
"While this action is not surprising given North Korea's
pattern of aggressive behavior, any missile activity by North
Korea is of concern to the international community.
"The United States remains vigilant in the face of North Korean
provocations, and is fully committed to the security (of) our
allies in the region," he said.
The DPRK launched a rocket carrying the Kwangmyongsong-3
satellite at 07:38 a.m. local time (2238 GMT Thursday) at the
Sohae Satellite Launching Station in Cholsan County, North Pyongan
Province.
"The earth observation satellite failed to enter its preset
orbit.Scientists, technicians and experts are now looking into the
cause of the failure," the DPRK's official KCNA news agency
reported.
Pyongyang has insisted the launch, planned to mark the 100th
birthday of late DPRK founder Kim Il Sung, was for peaceful
purposes and would not harm the region or neighboring countries.
Japan's defense ministry said the country has suffered "no
impact of falling objects" from the launch and urged the public to
stay calm.
The Japanese government convened security meetings to discuss
its response to the DPRK's failed satellite launch.
South Korea strongly condemned the launch, saying the DPRK will
have to "take responsibility."
"North Korea's long-range missile launch is a clear violation
of UN Security Council Resolution 1874 banning all launches using
ballistic-missile technology, and is a provocative act that
threatens peace and security of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast
Asia," South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said in a
statement.
"North Korea will have to take responsibility (for the
launch)," Kim said, adding the government is seeking a
"comprehensive response" to potential nuclear and missile threats
posed by its northern neighbor.
South Korea and Japan had vowed to shoot down the three-stage
rocket or parts of it if they fell within their territory,
prompting the DPRK to threaten a retaliation of "merciless
punishment," but the debris fell into international waters some
100 to 150 km off South Korea's western port city of Gunsan.
China on Friday urged all sides to remain calm after
Pyongyang's failed rocket launch.
"We hope all relevant parties can maintain calm and restraint,
and refrain from acts that would harm peace and stability on the
Peninsula and in the region," foreign ministry spokesman Liu
Weimin said in a statement.
He also called on all sides to maintain "contact and dialogue"
to jointly ensure peace and stability on the Peninsula and in the
region.
The UN Security Council will convene an emergency session at 10
a.m. EST (1500 GMT) Friday to discuss responses to the rocket
launch.
Diplomats said the U.S. UN mission, which holds the rotating
Security Council presidency for April, is working on a
presidential statement condemning Pyongyang's rocket launch to get
it approved by the council on Friday.
In Washington, foreign ministers from the Group of Eight (G8)
issued a statement Thursday condemning the DPRK's rocket launch.
"We are ready to consider, with others, taking measures
responding to all activities of the DPRK that violate UN Security
Council Resolutions, and calling for an appropriate response by
the United Nations Security Council," the statement said.
The ministers urged the DPRK "to abstain from further launches
using ballistic missile technology or other actions which
aggravate the situation on the Korean Peninsula."
They also called on the DPRK to meet its international
commitments including those under the 2005 Joint Statement of the
Six-Party Talks, and comply with its obligations under all
relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, in particular by
abandoning all its nuclear weapons and its existing nuclear and
ballistic missile programs "in a complete, verifiable, and
irreversible manner."
The DPRK should cease its uranium enrichment activities and
take concrete and irreversible steps toward denuclearization, the
statement added.
Indonesia on Friday expressed its regret over the DPRK's rocket
launch.
"We deeply regret that the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea has chosen to proceed with the rocket launch, despite the
appeals of many. At this current juncture, it is important that
all project calm and exercise maximum restraint. More than ever,
it is vital that diplomacy and dialogue be placed at the forefront
in order to ensure peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula,"
the Indonesian foreign ministry said in a statement.
In Wellington, New Zealand's government said it "strongly urges
North Korea to abide by its obligations under UN Security Council
Resolutions, cease its provocations, and take steps to
denuclearize."
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully said in a
statement that his government was joining "the widespread
international condemnation" of the satellite launch by the DPRK on
early Friday morning.
"Despite North Korea's claim that the satellite launch is for
peaceful purposes, this action violates UN Security Council
Resolutions, aggravates tensions and undermines efforts to build
peace and stability in the region," McCully said.
"It is a major disappointment following their recent agreement
with the United States to put a moratorium on long-range missile
launches," he said in the statement.
In Manila, the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department said in a
statement that "the Philippines strongly urges the DPRK to desist
from acts of provocation and to end its use or testing of
ballistic missile technology."
In late February, the DPRK agreed to impose a moratorium on
nuclear tests and long-range missile launches and allow
international nuclear inspectors to return to the country. In
return, the United States agreed to provide the country with
240,000 tons of food aid.
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