North Korean rocket launch a `provocative act’: Obama
April 5th, 2009 - 11:42 am ICT by IANS
Washington, April 5 (DPA) The North Korean launch of a rocket Sunday was a “provocative act”, US President Barack Obama said.
Pyongyang fired what it said was a communications satellite around 11.30 a.m. (0230 GMT) from North Korea’s east coast, but Japan, South Korea and Washington believe the launch was a screen to test a long-range ballistic missile.
“North Korea’s development and proliferation of ballistic missile technology pose a threat to the north-east Asian region and to international peace and security,” Obama said in a statement issued from Prague, where he is to attend a US-European Union Summit Sunday.
The White House said the launch of what it identified as a Taepodong 2 missile was in violation of a United Nations Security Council resolution that bans Pyongyang from conducting ballistic missile activities.
“With this provocative act, North Korea has ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations,” Obama said.
The president said the US would work with allies, including Japan and South Korea, to bring the issue to the Security Council. Tokyo had already requested an emergency meeting of the body in New York.
“I urge North Korea to abide fully by the resolutions of the UN Security Council and to refrain from further provocative actions,” Obama said.
The US remains committed to the six-party talks to halt North Korean nuclear activities.
State Department spokesman Fred Lash said the launch “prompts the United States to take appropriate steps to let North Korea know that its development, deployment and proliferation of ballistic missiles, missile-related materials, equipment and technologies, pose a serious threat to the north-east Asian region and to the international community.”
- North Korea rocket launch fails (Second Lead) - Apr 13, 2012
- North Korea launches rocket despite warnings (Second Lead) - Apr 05, 2009
- G-8 urges North Korea to cancel rocket launch - Apr 13, 2012
- Defiant North Korea launches ballistic missile (Third Lead) - Apr 05, 2009
- UNSC condemns North Korean rocket launch - Apr 17, 2012
- North Korea satellite launch provocative: US - Apr 10, 2012
- World leaders condemn North Korean rocket launch - Apr 05, 2009
- 'Japan can crash North Korea satellite if needed' - Mar 18, 2012
- Japan resolution against North Korea's rocket launch - Apr 12, 2012
- North Korea's satellite plan provocative: US - Mar 16, 2012
- World leaders condemn North Korea's missile launch (Lead) - Apr 05, 2009
- Obama extends sanctions on North Korea - Jun 24, 2011
- North Korea launches long-range rocket: reports (Lead) - Apr 13, 2012
- UNSC meets on North Korea's satellite launch - Apr 13, 2012
- Japan to deploy interceptors to counter North Korean launch - Mar 20, 2012
Tags: 0230 gmt, ballistic missiles, barack obama, communications satellite, east asian region, european union summit, fred lash, international peace, missile north korea, missile technology, nations security council, nuclear activities, provocative actions, range ballistic missile, security council resolution, state department spokesman, taepodong 2 missile, un security council, united nations security, united nations security council