NKorea planned launch strengthens need for sanctions

The global community isn’t likely to be pleased with this launch since it’s going to see it as a workaround for North Korea to test its long-range missile technology.

It said the information provided by North Korea, whose official name is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), was incomplete, and that it is seeking more details.

North Korea also notified the International Telecommunications Union, another United Nations agency based in Geneva, according to Kyodo News.

US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel, the senior US diplomat for East Asia, said the announcement called for tougher United Nations sanctions.

“This argues even more strongly for action by the UN Security Council and the worldwide community to impose real consequences for the destabilizing action that (North Korea) has taken, is taking, and to raise the cost to the leaders through the imposition of tough additional sanctions”.

Models of the larger and much more formidable-looking Unha 9 rocket have since been displayed at various events in North Korea, including annual flower shows held in honor of national founder Kim Il Sung and his son, Kim Jong Il.

North Korea informed the International Maritime Organisation of its plans on Tuesday.

South Korean intelligence officials said that in its 2012 rocket launch, North Korea was actually testing a design for a ballistic missile that could eventually fly more than 6,200 miles with a warhead of about 1,100 to 1,300 pounds.

North Korea continues to claim that the goal of its satellite program is to collect data for scientific purposes.

North Korea last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, sending an object it described as a communications satellite into orbit.

The Reuters report also suggests that North Korea has displayed two types of ballistic missiles that carry the capability of reaching the U.S. West Coast, but evidence that proves these missiles have been tested fails to exist.

The timing of the launch plan notification – just as talks with Wu were starting – undoubtedly will irritate China.

North Korea is under sanctions for its nuclear and missile programmes.

For North Korea, that’s between 10 a.m. and 1 or 2 p.m.so they tend to stop activity during that window, or move trucks under cover or keep activity in buildings to prevent detection.

“Right now, we’re carefully monitoring developments and are in close touch with the interested parties and the global organizations”, he said.

North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons.

In a government statement, the South said any missile test disguised as a satellite launch would pose a “grave threat” to world peace and security. And North Korea contends it has withdrawn from any global agreements that would limit its weaponry.