NKorea launches long-range rocket
NKorea launches long-range rocket
South Korean soldier watches a TV news program on the North Korean rocket launch at a train station in Seoul, Sunday, April 5, 2009. (Agencies)
SEOUL, April 5, 2009 - North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday, defying months of pressure from the US and its allies over what they said was an illegal missile test and jangling nerves across the region.
US President Barack Obama swiftly condemned Pyongyang's "provocative" act, South Korea denounced it as a "reckless" threat to world security, and the UN Security Council set an emergency meeting for later Sunday.
For several tense minutes, the rocket flew through the airspace of Japan, which had given its military authority to shoot down any threat to its soil -- something the North Koreans had warned would be seen as an act of war.
But the Japanese government said the booster stages fell harmlessly into the waters off its coasts and that it did not move to intercept the rocket, which then kept soaring east out over the Pacific Ocean.
Hours after several other nations confirmed the launch, the DPRK's official KCNA news agency said it had succeeded in putting a satellite into orbit that was broadcasting "immortal revolutionary songs."
"The launch vehicle and satellite, developed by our own technology, is a proud fruit of our struggle to bring the nation's space technology to a higher level," it said.
"The success of the satellite launch gives great encouragement to the people."
What concerned the US and its allies was not so much the payload as the rocket carrying it, which Obama said was in fact a Taepodong-2 -- the North's longest-range missile which could in theory reach US soil in Alaska or Hawaii.
"With this provocative act, North Korea has ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations," Obama said.
South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan said the North "appeared to have attempted a satellite launch, but whether it was successful or not is a matter requiring additional judgement."
The North tested the Taepodong-2, which has an estimated range of 4,100 miles (6,700 kilometres), and an atomic bomb in 2006, while in the midst of six-nation disarmament talks.
The Security Council then passed Resolution 1718, which imposed sanctions on the North and warned against further nuclear or missile tests.
The Council was to meet later Sunday (1900 GMT) on the matter -- something the North has previously warned would all but the spell the end of the long-running disarmament negotiations.
The United States and North Korea have decades of hostility between them, dating back to the 1950-1953 Korean war which ended without a peace treaty, and Pyongyang's regime has often worried its neighbours.
"This is provocative activity which threatens stability and peace on the Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia," South Korea's Yu said. "North Korea's launch is a clear violation of (Resolution) 1718."
The other five nations in the disarmament talks had all called on North Korea to refrain from the launch, including China.
"We hope relevant parties will remain calm and restrained, handle the situation properly, and together maintain peace and stability in the region," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.
One of the poorest nations in the world, North Korea had given a window for the launch beginning on Saturday, and the actual launch came not long after official radio announced favourable weather conditions in the morning.
World leaders denounced the launch, which the North had been saying it would carry out since February.
"Such a launch is not conducive to efforts to promote dialogue, regional peace and stability," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said.
The European Union, holding a summit in Prague on Sunday where Obama was giving a speech on weapons proliferation, called on North Korea to immediately suspend all missile activities.
South Korean soldier watches a TV news program on the North Korean rocket launch at a train station in Seoul, Sunday, April 5, 2009. (Agencies)
SEOUL, April 5, 2009 - North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday, defying months of pressure from the US and its allies over what they said was an illegal missile test and jangling nerves across the region.
US President Barack Obama swiftly condemned Pyongyang's "provocative" act, South Korea denounced it as a "reckless" threat to world security, and the UN Security Council set an emergency meeting for later Sunday.
For several tense minutes, the rocket flew through the airspace of Japan, which had given its military authority to shoot down any threat to its soil -- something the North Koreans had warned would be seen as an act of war.
But the Japanese government said the booster stages fell harmlessly into the waters off its coasts and that it did not move to intercept the rocket, which then kept soaring east out over the Pacific Ocean.
Hours after several other nations confirmed the launch, the DPRK's official KCNA news agency said it had succeeded in putting a satellite into orbit that was broadcasting "immortal revolutionary songs."
"The launch vehicle and satellite, developed by our own technology, is a proud fruit of our struggle to bring the nation's space technology to a higher level," it said.
"The success of the satellite launch gives great encouragement to the people."
What concerned the US and its allies was not so much the payload as the rocket carrying it, which Obama said was in fact a Taepodong-2 -- the North's longest-range missile which could in theory reach US soil in Alaska or Hawaii.
"With this provocative act, North Korea has ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations," Obama said.
South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan said the North "appeared to have attempted a satellite launch, but whether it was successful or not is a matter requiring additional judgement."
The North tested the Taepodong-2, which has an estimated range of 4,100 miles (6,700 kilometres), and an atomic bomb in 2006, while in the midst of six-nation disarmament talks.
The Security Council then passed Resolution 1718, which imposed sanctions on the North and warned against further nuclear or missile tests.
The Council was to meet later Sunday (1900 GMT) on the matter -- something the North has previously warned would all but the spell the end of the long-running disarmament negotiations.
The United States and North Korea have decades of hostility between them, dating back to the 1950-1953 Korean war which ended without a peace treaty, and Pyongyang's regime has often worried its neighbours.
"This is provocative activity which threatens stability and peace on the Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia," South Korea's Yu said. "North Korea's launch is a clear violation of (Resolution) 1718."
The other five nations in the disarmament talks had all called on North Korea to refrain from the launch, including China.
"We hope relevant parties will remain calm and restrained, handle the situation properly, and together maintain peace and stability in the region," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.
One of the poorest nations in the world, North Korea had given a window for the launch beginning on Saturday, and the actual launch came not long after official radio announced favourable weather conditions in the morning.
World leaders denounced the launch, which the North had been saying it would carry out since February.
"Such a launch is not conducive to efforts to promote dialogue, regional peace and stability," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said.
The European Union, holding a summit in Prague on Sunday where Obama was giving a speech on weapons proliferation, called on North Korea to immediately suspend all missile activities.
