“Even for satellite purposes, it clearly violates the Security Council resolution.”
While North Korea notified the Japanese government that it would launch an ‘artificial satellite’ between the 22nd and the 1st of next month, North Korean nuclear representatives from South Korea, the United States, and Japan held a phone call to discuss the security situation.
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 21st that it had held a telephone consultation between North Korean nuclear representatives from South Korea, the United States, and Japan regarding North Korea’s notification of a launch using ballistic missile technology and confirmed its policy to strongly demand that North Korea stop the launch.
Participants in the call included Kim Kun, Director of the Korean Peninsula Peace Negotiation Headquarters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jung Jung, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Special Representative for North Korea, and Hiroyuki Namaz, Director of the Asia and Oceania Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Representatives of Korea, the United States and Japan for North Korean nuclear affairs pointed out, “A launch using North Korea’s ballistic missile technology is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions, even if it is for the purpose of launching a satellite.”
They also reaffirmed their intention to continue to cooperate closely in strengthening regional deterrence and response capabilities, including trilateral security cooperation, and linking the international community, including responses to the Security Council and cooperation with allies.
According to Japan’s NHK, North Korea notified the Japan Coast Guard on this day that it would launch an ‘artificial satellite’ between midnight on the 22nd and midnight on the 1st of next month.
The areas expected to fall are two in the West Sea southwest of North Korea and one in the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines, all outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
In relation to this, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a regular briefing on the 20th (local time), “We will take appropriate measures together with our allies in the region to monitor and respond to North Korea’s provocative actions.”
Regarding arms and technology trade between Russia and North Korea, “Russia should not provide technology to North Korea. “This is a violation of the UN Security Council resolution,” he condemned.
Previously, North Korea failed to launch military reconnaissance satellites on May 31 and August 24. Afterwards, it was announced that a third launch would take place in October, but the actual launch did not take place.
Accordingly, North Korea focused on improving the technical completeness of the third launch, even going against the announced schedule, and there is analysis that there may have been technology transfer from Russia in this process.
Previously, on the 10th, Daily NK reported, citing a high-ranking source within North Korea, that about 20 engineers and scientists from North Korea’s General Directorate of Aerospace Technology were staying in Russia and receiving satellite-related technology support.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.