Tensions soar over North Korea’s satellite launch plan

Pyongyang has announced it will launch a satellite-bearing rocket sometime between February 8-25, which is around the time of the birthday on February 16 of late leader Kim Jong-Il, father of current leader Kim Jong-Un.

“Lewis also noted a now Treasury Department-confirmed report that North Korea and Iran have been cooperating on the development of a new 80-ton rocket booster, raising the possibility of the Unha-9 rocket using the booster as its first stage”, The Korea Times reported.

Pyongyang’s state outlet DPRK Today said Thursday North Korea is an “unrivaled superpower” that has the technology to launch an earth observation satellite, the ability to detonate hydrogen bombs, and is now a major player on the worldwide stage.

US Defence Secretary Ash Carter said the US military was keeping a vigilant eye on North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs, and was continually expanding its defences against a possible missile attack by Pyongyang.

Japan’s defense minister said Wednesday he issued a missile-shoot-down order and deployed Aegis destroyers and PAC-3 missile defense units to around Tokyo and Okinawa in case debris fall on the Japanese territory.

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

China on Wednesday joined the global chorus of anger and concern over a planned rocket launch by North Korea, as Japan vowed to shoot down any missile that threatened its territory.

The drills were meant to assert the military’s determination not to tolerate North Korea’s nuclear weapons and to raise the combined operational capability of the military’s difference branches, the JCS said in a statement.

Local media have reported that airlines are being told to redirect their flights onto alternative routes out of concern that the ballistic missile could interfere with operations.

The United States, which has been spearheading a diplomatic drive for harsher, more effective sanctions on Pyongyang, was quick to condemn the launch plan. During the press conference, Lu also responded to the argument that North Korea’s announcement of another rocket launch was cause to place tougher sanctions on North Korea.

North Korea has always been under an array of USA and United Nations sanctions for its ballistic missile and nuclear tests.

Recent commercial satellite images showed an increased number of vehicles at North Korea’s Sohae launch station on February 1, compared to a week earlier.

In Washington, US state department spokesman John Kirby said the United Nations security council needed to “send the North Koreans a swift, firm message”.

Upon his arrival at the Beijing airport, Wu was quoted as saying by Japan’s Kyodo News that he had a discussion with the North Korean officials about “what must be done”.