BLASTOFF BLASTED
UN condemns Kim for illegal missile test
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean propaganda described the country’s launch of a longrange rocket Sunday as a glorious trail of “fascinating vapor” through the clear blue sky. But for South Korea’s president, and other world leaders, it was a banned test of dangerous ballistic missile technology and yet another “intolerable provocation.”
The UN Security Council responded at an emergency meeting Sunday by issuing a statement condemning the rocket launch and pledging to “expeditiously” adopt a new resolution with “significant” new sanctions.
The rocket was launched from North Korea’s west coast only two hours after an eightday launch window opened Sunday morning, its path tracked separately by the United States, Japan and South Korea. No damage from debris was reported.
North Korea, which calls its launches part of a peaceful space program, said it had successfully put a new Earth observation satellite, the Kwangmyongsong 4, or Shining Star 4, into orbit less than 10 minutes after liftoff. It vowed more such launches. A US official said it might take days to assess whether the launch was a success.
The launch follows North Korea’s widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb. Washington and its allies will consider the rocket launch a further provocation and push for more tough sanctions.
The UN Security Council held a closeddoor emergency meeting at the request of the US and Japan.
The statement approved by all 15 council members underscored that launches using ballistic missile technology, “even if characterized as a satellite launch or space launch vehicle” contribute to North Korea’s development of systems to deliver nuclear weapons.
The statement stressed that using ballistic missile technology is a violation of four Security Council resolutions dating back to 2006.