North Korea: “We will launch missile,

will put a satellite into orbit”

BEIJING – North Korea will launch a long-range missile between 10 and 22 December, reports the official KCNA agency, stating that the rocket will put a satellite into orbit. Many foreign observers believe that Pyongyang has experienced its long-range missiles on these occasions, carrying out a “hidden” missile test. The agency adds that a space program official said the launch is necessary after the “mistakes” made with an analogue launch last April which had alerted all the world’s chancelleries.

The reaction of Seoul is immediate: “The launch of the missile that North Korea wants to try again – said the South Korean foreign minister, as reported by the Yonhap agency – is a serious provocation that ignores the concerns and warnings of the international community and represents an open challenge against it “.

Same terms used by the US State Department: “A serious provocation that threatens the peace and security of the region”. According to State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland, “any use by North Korea of ​​ballistic missile-related technology is a direct violation of the UN Security Council resolution.” “Continuing to allocate scarce resources to the development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles will only further isolate and impoverish North Korea – adds the spokeswoman for Hillary Clinton -; the United States is consulting with partners participating in the six-party talks and other allies to decide the next steps “.
(01 December 2012)