North Korea may be preparing separate missile launch, report says

After expressing regret over the collapse of the Six Party Talks – China’s preferred method for resolving the Korean nuclear issue, Lu effectively blamed the United States for North Korea’s recent nuclear tests. This is because China has opposed USA attempts to impose tough sanctions, including an embargo on shipments of fuel to North Korea.

The UN has passed a series of resolutions banning North Korea from developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technologies. But internal unity that turns the worldwide community into an enemy will ultimately work against the North Korean regime. Accordingly, its Foreign Ministry responded with some dismay at the news that North Korea is preparing a launch.

“For this reason, starting with the last launch after Japan threatened to shoot down its missiles, North Korea has used a trajectory that did not go over Japan”.

“We hope all sides show restraint and take prudent action to avoid any moves that may increase the tensions on the (Korean) Peninsula”, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regularly scheduled news briefing.

The Yomiuri ShimbunThe worldwide community must stand united and ratchet up the pressure on North Korea to deter that nation from advancing its nuclear and missile programs.

Pyongyang last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, which it also described as a communications satellite.

According to the coordinates the North provided to worldwide agencies, its multi-stage rocket, if it is fired from the northwestern Dongchang-ri launch site, will initially fly over the West Sea, drop the first stage there, and pass over the East China Sea before shedding the second stage in the Philippine Sea.

Since early 2013, North Korea has been upgrading its Sohae satellite launch complex to handle larger longer-range rockets with heavier payloads, but most experts say Pyongyang is still years from obtaining a credible ICBM capability.

Three UN agencies that handle maritime, telecommunication and civil aviation issues had been notified, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said. We know that response and a bag of coins will get you into New York City.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon meanwhile urged the reclusive communist state to scrap its plans for the rocket launch – another major violation of UN resolutions just weeks after its fourth nuclear test. But the ITU’s United Nations representative, Gary Fowlie, said not enough technical information had been supplied to register the planned launch in its Master International Frequency Register.

Japan has pledged to shoot down any missile that encroaches on its territory. In diplomatic terms, it was yet another sign of disrespect for North Korea’s chief ally.