North Korea's rocket crashes into the sea just minutes after takeoff
Source: Agencies |
April 14, 2012, Saturday
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North Korea's long-range rocket launch failed as the missile splintered into the Yellow Sea soon after takeoff yesterday.
The country was using the launch to celebrate the 100th birthday of founding President Kim Il Sung and mark the rise to power of his grandson Kim Jong Un.
The United States and Japan said the rocket, which they claimed was a disguised missile test and North Korea said was to put a satellite into orbit, crashed into the sea after traveling a much shorter distance than a previous North Korean launch.
North Korea admitted in a state television broadcast seen by its 23 million people that the latest satellite had not made it into orbit.
The rocket flew for just a few minutes, covering a little over 100 kilometers, to explode over a sea separating the Korean Peninsula and China, far less than the last rocket in 2009 that traveled 3,800 kilometers, alarming Japan as it flew over.
The rocket's destruction suggests the country has yet to master the technology needed to build long-range missiles that could threaten the US.
Still, worries remain about North Korea's nuclear program amid reports that it may be planning an atomic test soon.
The foreign ministers of the Group of Eight industrialized nations meeting in Washington condemned the launch.
The United Nations Security Council, meanwhile, said it deplores the launch, which violates two council resolutions. The US said it was suspending plans to contribute food aid to North Korea in exchange for a rollback of its nuclear programs.
North Korea has tested two atomic devices but is not yet believed to be able to build a nuclear warhead small enough to be mounted on a long-range missile.
North Korea has repeatedly defended its right to launch rockets for what it says are peaceful purposes and may have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the failed launch.
China again appealed for "calm and restraint" after the launch failure.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement: "Despite the failure of its attempted missile launch, North Korea's provocative action threatens regional security, violates international law and contravenes its own recent commitments,"
State media said the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite was fired from the Sohae Satellite Launching Station in the hamlet of Tongchang-ri along the west coast but "failed to enter its preset orbit."
"Scientists, technicians and experts are now looking into the cause of the failure," the state-run Korean Central News Agency said.
The Unha-3's launch was monitored by the US, Japanese and South Korean military who were expected to capture vital data on North Korea's ballistic missile capabilities.
US Navy minesweepers and other ships in the area were expected to begin scouring the seas for rocket debris which could offer evidence of what went wrong and what rocket technology North Korea has.
The country was using the launch to celebrate the 100th birthday of founding President Kim Il Sung and mark the rise to power of his grandson Kim Jong Un.
The United States and Japan said the rocket, which they claimed was a disguised missile test and North Korea said was to put a satellite into orbit, crashed into the sea after traveling a much shorter distance than a previous North Korean launch.
North Korea admitted in a state television broadcast seen by its 23 million people that the latest satellite had not made it into orbit.
The rocket flew for just a few minutes, covering a little over 100 kilometers, to explode over a sea separating the Korean Peninsula and China, far less than the last rocket in 2009 that traveled 3,800 kilometers, alarming Japan as it flew over.
The rocket's destruction suggests the country has yet to master the technology needed to build long-range missiles that could threaten the US.
Still, worries remain about North Korea's nuclear program amid reports that it may be planning an atomic test soon.
The foreign ministers of the Group of Eight industrialized nations meeting in Washington condemned the launch.
The United Nations Security Council, meanwhile, said it deplores the launch, which violates two council resolutions. The US said it was suspending plans to contribute food aid to North Korea in exchange for a rollback of its nuclear programs.
North Korea has tested two atomic devices but is not yet believed to be able to build a nuclear warhead small enough to be mounted on a long-range missile.
North Korea has repeatedly defended its right to launch rockets for what it says are peaceful purposes and may have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the failed launch.
China again appealed for "calm and restraint" after the launch failure.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement: "Despite the failure of its attempted missile launch, North Korea's provocative action threatens regional security, violates international law and contravenes its own recent commitments,"
State media said the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite was fired from the Sohae Satellite Launching Station in the hamlet of Tongchang-ri along the west coast but "failed to enter its preset orbit."
"Scientists, technicians and experts are now looking into the cause of the failure," the state-run Korean Central News Agency said.
The Unha-3's launch was monitored by the US, Japanese and South Korean military who were expected to capture vital data on North Korea's ballistic missile capabilities.
US Navy minesweepers and other ships in the area were expected to begin scouring the seas for rocket debris which could offer evidence of what went wrong and what rocket technology North Korea has.
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