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Rocket on launchpad in DPRK: the US
Source: Agencies |
March 27, 2009, Friday
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Print Edition
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THE United State and the Republic of Korea yesterday warned of serious consequences if the People's Democratic Republic of Korea forges ahead and fires a rocket that American officials say is now positioned on a launchpad in the northeast for fueling.
Pyongyang says the rocket will carry a satellite, but the West suspect the North will use the launch to test the delivery technology for a long-range missile capable of striking Alaska. They have said the launch ?? banned by the UN Security Council in 2006 ?? would trigger sanctions.
Analysts say scientists need a few days to conduct tests and to fuel the projectile, keeping Pyongyang on track for liftoff during the announced April 4-8 launch dates.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned such a "provocative act" could jeopardize the stalled talks on supplying North Korea with aid and other concessions in exchange for dismantling its nuclear program.
"We intend to raise this violation of the Security Council resolution, if it goes forward, in the UN," Clinton said. "This provocative action, in violation of the UN mandate, will not go unnoticed and there will be consequences."
North Korea responded yesterday by threatening "strong steps" if the Security Council criticizes the launch, and suggested it would reverse nuclear disablement carried out so far. It would also mean an immediate end to nuclear disarmament talks, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
North Korea has said the launch would happen between April 4 and 8, just before North Korea's new parliament holds its inaugural session on April 9. It will also come just before late North Korea founder Kim Il Sung's April 15 birthday.
Pyongyang says the rocket will carry a satellite, but the West suspect the North will use the launch to test the delivery technology for a long-range missile capable of striking Alaska. They have said the launch ?? banned by the UN Security Council in 2006 ?? would trigger sanctions.
Analysts say scientists need a few days to conduct tests and to fuel the projectile, keeping Pyongyang on track for liftoff during the announced April 4-8 launch dates.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned such a "provocative act" could jeopardize the stalled talks on supplying North Korea with aid and other concessions in exchange for dismantling its nuclear program.
"We intend to raise this violation of the Security Council resolution, if it goes forward, in the UN," Clinton said. "This provocative action, in violation of the UN mandate, will not go unnoticed and there will be consequences."
North Korea responded yesterday by threatening "strong steps" if the Security Council criticizes the launch, and suggested it would reverse nuclear disablement carried out so far. It would also mean an immediate end to nuclear disarmament talks, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
North Korea has said the launch would happen between April 4 and 8, just before North Korea's new parliament holds its inaugural session on April 9. It will also come just before late North Korea founder Kim Il Sung's April 15 birthday.
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