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North Korea plans April rocket launch, defies UN resolution
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by TDH | March 12, 2009 at 10:56 am
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North Korea has informed the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN agency, of its intent to launch the rocket "Unha-2" between April 4-8.
North Korea maintains that the rocket is for an "experimental communications satellite". The United States, South Korea and other nations in the region, though, suspect it may be a long-range ballistic missile test.
The proposed launch has drawn fire from the United States, South Korea and other countries in the region, who accuse the North of seeking to test-fire a missile capable of hitting Alaska. The North has maintained that the rocket will only carry an experimental communications satellite.
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North Korea claims it is acting in the interest of the region by advising the IMO as well as the Civil Aviation Organization (CVO) of its intent.
"We've informed the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization and other international bodies of the necessary information for the safe navigation of planes and ships as part of efforts to prepare for launching the Kwangmyongsong-2, an experimental communications satellite, by carrier rocket Unha-2,'' North Korea's state-run news agency said Thursday.
Under a UN Security Council resolution adopted after its 2006 premier nuclear test, North Korea is banned from any ballistic missile activity. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon believes the move would "threaten the peace and stability of the region."
The United States and South Korea see the possible launch as a breach of the resolution, and have pressured the North to abandon its plans. Japan said earlier this month it may send destroyers to intercept the rocket if need be.
U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said Wednesday that China stood united with the United States in opposition to the launch.
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at 17:05 on March 12th, 2009
Well, Should they really do this we may have an ugly outcome and people in South East and North East Asia better take cover,
See also: http://my.nowpublic.com/world/missile-crisis-japanese-sea-escalating-further
On this very issue. Thank you for the post on this.
at 17:44 on March 12th, 2009
N. Korea have defied the UN for many years, even if they carry out their missile test there will be a bit more noise for awhile but then life will slip back.
If N. Korea is a country, don't they have a right to test fire their missiles, provided that don't violate the air space of another country.
The Japanese don't currently have any destroyers armed to take out a Korea missile but they are considering arming two in the near future, but they haven't reached a decision on that.
It would be up to the Americans to take out a Korean missile but I doubt they will do it at this time unless there is a sudden danger to S. Korea or Japan.
at 17:47 on March 12th, 2009
Two Japanese destroyers are armed and deployed as well.
at 19:30 on March 12th, 2009
I stand corrected, there are two Japanese Self Defense Force destroyers in the Japan Sea and armed and capable of taking out the N. Korea test missile but under their constitution can only do so if it threatens Japanese air space.
That leaves the Americans but I think they won't provoke the situation unless the test missile threatens the air space of S. Korea or Japan.