North Korea rocket launch triggers global outrage

The tests prompted UN Security Council members to impose sanctions against the country, which is already under sanctions for its nuclear and missile programmes.

The United States and South Korea signaled new interest in exploring the installation of a sophisticated US antimissile system – a step that Seoul had previously resisted under pressure from China.

Well, Mark, as you say South Korea’s defense ministry have released its technical analysis of North Korea’s recent rocket launch.

North Korea said it launched a satellite for peaceful purposes, but the USA and allies say it was a ballistic missile test that threatens the US and ally South Korea.

The announcement was a direct response to North Korea’s launching a rocket into space Sunday, largely seen as a veiled test of the reclusive nation’s ballistic missile program, Cook said.

The phone calls came two days after the DPRK put an observation satellite into orbit aboard a long-range rocket.

Should the US respond against North Korea?

Motohide Yoshikawa, center, Japan’s ambassador to the United Nations, speaks to the media following a Security Council meeting at U.N. headquarters, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016.

There had been speculation the North might use a much larger rocket this time after having completed work on an extended 67-metre (220-foot) gantry tower capable of handling a launch vehicle twice the size of the 30-metre Unha-3.

Cook emphasized that the THAAD system, should it be deployed to the Korean Peninsula, would be “focused exclusively on North Korea”.

This week, the top US military commander will discuss North Korea’s latest satellite launch with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts as part of efforts to strengthen military ties between the three countries, USA defense officials said on Monday.

Hopefully this isn’t the beginning of a trend of threats from North Korea on worldwide safety and peace.

Beijing has in the past proved reluctant to support biting multilateral sanctions against North Korea, for fear of destabilizing a regime on China’s border.