Obama discuss North Korean missile launch with Korea, Japan

“We’ve been able to determine that they were able to put a satellite or some space device into orbit”, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said.

The US and South Korea say they will now explore whether to deploy an advanced missile defence system in South Korea “at the earliest possible date”.

US and South Korea will begin “in the coming days’ discussions on the implementation of future anti-missile battery, said Mr Cook”.

He added that the 15-nation council “restated their intent to develop significant measures in a new Security Council resolution in response to the nuclear test” in January, as well as Sunday’s 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.

North Korea launched a long-range rocket carrying what it called a satellite, drawing renewed global condemnation just weeks after it carried out a nuclear bomb test, Reuters reports.

The official said Washington and Beijing remained in close touch on how to respond to North Korea.

About 30 minutes later, Park received a phone call from Abe, agreeing to cooperate in the adoption in UN Security Council of the strongest and the most effective sanctions toward the DPRK.

North Korea’s missile test … is a clear and direct threat to USA national security interests and those of our allies and partners.

“In response to the increasing North Korea’s threat, ROK and the US will officially discuss deploying THAAD to USA forces in Korea to improve its missile defense posture”, Yoo Jeh-seung, a top planner at the South Korean Defense Ministry said.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the closed-door session, France’s United Nations ambassador, Francois Delattre, described North Korea’s launch as an “outrageous provocation”.

The PM stressed the need for the worldwide community to “make every effort to put the brakes on Pyongyang’s risky provocative acts” and “accelerate the process toward swift adoption of a strong resolution”.

“We condemn today’s launch and North Korea’s determination to prioritise its missile and nuclear weapons programmes over the well-being of its people”, National Security Adviser Susan Rice said in a statement.