North Korea launches controversial long-range rocket

Pyongyang had claimed the indigenously developed rocket was to put an
Earth-observation satellite into orbit and to mark the 100th anniversary of
the birth of Kim Il-sung, the founder of the nation, and went ahead with the
launch in the face of strong international criticism.

Washington, Seoul and Japan have claimed that the launch was a
thinly-disguised test-firing of a ballistic missile, which would be in
contravention of United Nations Security Council resolutions imposed after
Pyongyang conducted previous missile launches and two nuclear tests.

Last night, William Hague, the foreign secretary, expressed “deep concern”
over North Korea’s decision to defy UN resolutions, and that the regime
should expect “a strong response from the international community”.

The UN Security Council has called an emergency meeting for Friday to discuss
North Korea’s actions and its possible responses. Key members of the
council, including Britain, have vowed to pursue further efforts to isolate
the North Korean regime.

There have been indications that North Korea is also preparing to carry out a
third nuclear test, a move that would further heighten tensions throughout
the region.

In Japan, Naoki Tanaka, the defence minister, said intelligence reports
indicate the missile was airborne for around one minute but did not leave
the atmosphere. Osamu Fujimura, the chief cabinet secretary, said the rocket
had no impact on Japanese territory and an emergency security meeting was
convened at 8:40am.

Lee Myung-bak, the South Korean president, has convened an emergency meeting
of security ministers in Seoul from 9am, officials told the Yonhap news
agency, and that potential countermeasures will be discussed.

On Thursday, Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, warned that North
Korea has a choice between isolation and closer ties with the international
community.

“Pyongyang has a clear choice,” she said in Washington. “It
can pursue peace and reap the benefits of closer ties with the international
community, including the United States. Or it can continue to face pressure
and isolation.

“If Pyongyang goes forward, we will all be back in the Security Council
to take further action,” she added. “And it is regrettable
because, as you know, we had worked through an agreement that would have
benefited the North Korean people with the provision of food aid.

“But in the current atmosphere, we would not be able to go forward with
that, and other actions that other countries had been considering would also
be on hold,” Clinton said.

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