Seoul: North Korea Fires Rocket Seen As Covert Missile Test

That suspicion is based on the fact that Pyongyang has been openly pushing to manufacture nuclear-tipped missiles capable of striking the US mainland and that the technology used to launch a satellite-carrying rocket into space can be applied to fire a long-range missile. North Korea has previously staged rocket launches to mark important anniversaries.

U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice said in a statement that “North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests – including the security of some of our closest allies – and undermine peace and security in the broader region”.

China also fears a wholesale collapse of the regime in Pyongyang may lead to a US-allied unified Korea on its doorstep.

South Korea has said it has agreed to begin talks with Washington on possible deployment of an advanced USA missile defense system.

“The leaders emphasized the importance of a strong and united worldwide response to North Korea’s provocations, including through an impactful U.N. Security Council Resolution”, the White House said.

Naturally, South Korea is showing some skepticism about this action, saying the rocket “burned up” southwest of Jeju, the largest island located off the south coast of the Korean Peninsula.

Meanwhile, United Nations Security Council has convened an an emergency meeting today over North Korea’s launch of a long-range rocket.

The rocket took off at around 9:00am Pyongyang time (00:30 GMT), according to the South Korean defence ministry.

“We will cooperate with the worldwide community and stand firm to take appropriate measures”, Abe said.

North Korea’s neighbours, especially archrivals South Korea and Japan, have been watching the build-up to the test with alarm. The rocket didn’t fly over South Korea’s territory.

“I strongly condemn North Korea’s ballistic missile technology test”, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said in a statement. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Abe had directed the government to consider expanding current sanctions against North Korea.

North Koreans applaud as they watch an electronic screen announcing the launch of a satellite on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, at the Pyongyang Railway Station in Pyongyang, North Korea.

Though North Korea said the launch was for scientific and “peaceful purposes” – adding it plans to launch more satellites – it was viewed by other nations, such as Japan and South Korea, as a front for a ballistic missile test, especially coming on the heels of North Korea’s purported hydrogen bomb test last month.

But in another report just before the launch, which like the “violent storms” report made no direct mention of the rocket or the global condemnation it has received, noted that Monday is the anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army in 1948.

A state TV announcer said that North Korea had successfully placed a satellite in orbit.

Footage from Japan’s NHK broadcaster showed an object visible from the southern island of Okinawa believed to be the rocket in flight.

South Korean’s military has seen a rocket launched by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) successfully entering into space, regarding it as a similar intercontinental ballistic missile to the Unha-3 rocket test-fired in late 2012.

He says the USA will continue to work with its partners and members of the U.N. Security Council on significant measures to hold North Korea to account.