North Korea rocket launch: A 'provocative act'

April 5, 2009

North Korea rocket launch

A 'provocative act'

This undated photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on March 26, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (center) inspecting the construction site of the Huichon power station in Jagang province. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

WASHINGTON - THE United States late Saturday pledged to take action after North Korea fired a rocket, calling it a 'provocative act' that threatened security in Asia.

The missile launch is an early test for US President Barack Obama, who had joined other world leaders in urging the hardline communist state to drop plans to test a missile.

China quiet on NKorea rocket launch BEIJING- CHINA remained quiet for more than an hour after a rocket launch by North Korea Sunday, with state media quoting only South Korean and Japanese government sources and media when reporting the news. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman refused to comment on the launch when contacted by AFP, and said he would be in contact 'as soon as possible' with information. ... more Obama: NKorea launch violated UN resolution WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama on Sunday called North Korea's rocket launch 'provocative' and a clear violation of UN Security Council rules. Here is the full text of Mr Obama's statement. ... more

'Certainly it threatens the whole safely and security of that region,' State Department spokesman Fred Lash said as he confirmed the launch late on Saturday Washington time.

'We look on this as a provocative act and certainly would - from the United States - take appropriate steps to let North Korea know that it can't threaten the safety and security of other countries with impunity and acts like these,' Mr Lash said.

He said that the test violated UN Security Council Resolution 1718, which was adopted after Pyongyang carried out a nuclear test in 2006.

That resolution had imposed sanctions on military goods and luxury products to North Korea and warned it not to carry out any further nuclear of ballistic missile tests.

Japan requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting shortly after the launch. The UN Security Council said it will hold consultations on the North Korean missile launch at 3pm EDT on Sunday (3am Singapore time on Monday), a UN diplomat said.

The consultations of the 15 Security Council members will take place behind closed doors.

Diplomats say Japan and the United States want the council to pass a resolution condemning the launch and calling for tougher enforcement of existing U.N. sanctions against North Korea.

'As you know, it's a violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718,' Mr Lash said. 'We know that for a fact. We certainly will take that under consideration in the next few days.' Congressman Howard Berman, who heads the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that the UN Security Council should take action.

'The test is an unnecessary provocation that raises tensions in the region,' Mr Berman said in a statement.

Mr Berman called on China and Russia - which have diplomatic ties with Pyongyang - to join ranks with the United States and its allies Japan and South Korea in condemning the test.

The five countries are part of deadlocked negotiations on ending North Korea's nuclear programme. -- AFP, REUTERS

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