Post by ۞Quaalude™۞ on Feb 23, 2009 12:05:01 GMT -5
N Korea rocket launch condemned The rocket blasted off from the Musudan-ri launch site in the north-east of the country at 0230 GMT.
North Korea said it was sending a satellite into orbit, but its neighbours suspect the launch was a cover for a long-range missile test.
They strongly condemned the launch. The US president told Pyongyang to "refrain from further provocative actions".
North Korea had "ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations", Barack Obama said in a written statement.
See satellite images of North Korea's launch pad
Japan called the move "extremely regrettable", while South Korea said it constituted a clear breach of a United Nations resolution.
The UN Security Council has approved a Japanese request for an emergency session later in the day in New York.
No intercept
North Korea announced several weeks ago that it planned to send what it called an "experimental communications satellite" into space.
Its rocket blasted off just before midday local time, within a pre-announced launch window .
North Korea has recently completed the deployment of new medium-range missiles capable of reaching more parts of Asia, South Korea says.
The communist nation also bolstered its special forces and its navy, a Ministry of Defence white paper said.
North Korea and its 1.19 million troops constituted a "direct and serious threat", the report said.
The white paper comes amid speculation that Pyongyang could be planning to test-fire a new long-range missile.
It also comes amid heightened tension between the two Koreas, over South Korean leader Lee Myung-bak's decision to link economic aid to progress on denuclearisation.
Observers believe Pyongyang could test-fire its Taepodong-2 missile in a bid to improve its bargaining power with the new US administration over the stalled aid-for-disarmament deal.
The industry journal, Jane's Defence Weekly, is reporting that its analysis of satellite imagery suggests a test launch could take place within the next few days.
Infiltrate QC
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7905361.stm
North Korea said it was sending a satellite into orbit, but its neighbours suspect the launch was a cover for a long-range missile test.
They strongly condemned the launch. The US president told Pyongyang to "refrain from further provocative actions".
North Korea had "ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations", Barack Obama said in a written statement.
See satellite images of North Korea's launch pad
Japan called the move "extremely regrettable", while South Korea said it constituted a clear breach of a United Nations resolution.
The UN Security Council has approved a Japanese request for an emergency session later in the day in New York.
No intercept
North Korea announced several weeks ago that it planned to send what it called an "experimental communications satellite" into space.
Its rocket blasted off just before midday local time, within a pre-announced launch window .
North Korea has recently completed the deployment of new medium-range missiles capable of reaching more parts of Asia, South Korea says.
The communist nation also bolstered its special forces and its navy, a Ministry of Defence white paper said.
North Korea and its 1.19 million troops constituted a "direct and serious threat", the report said.
The white paper comes amid speculation that Pyongyang could be planning to test-fire a new long-range missile.
It also comes amid heightened tension between the two Koreas, over South Korean leader Lee Myung-bak's decision to link economic aid to progress on denuclearisation.
Observers believe Pyongyang could test-fire its Taepodong-2 missile in a bid to improve its bargaining power with the new US administration over the stalled aid-for-disarmament deal.
The industry journal, Jane's Defence Weekly, is reporting that its analysis of satellite imagery suggests a test launch could take place within the next few days.
Infiltrate QC
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7905361.stm