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Defying
world pressure: South Koreans watch news of North Korea’s rocket
launch on television at the Seoul railway station Sunday. North Korea
fired a long-range rocket over Japan on Sunday, provoking international
outrage and triggering an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
Reuters/Jo Yong-hakDefying world pressure: South Koreans watch news of
North Korea’s rocket launch on television at the Seoul railway
station Sunday. North Korea fired a long-range rocket over Japan on
Sunday, provoking international outrage and triggering an emergency
meeting of the UN Security Council. Reuters/Jo Yong-hak
Indonesia has expressed concern over the “satellite” launch
by North Korea suspected internationally of being a missile test,
citing the risk of “escalating tensions” in the Korean
Peninsula, Indonesia said.
“The launch has increased the risk of tension although it still
has to be verified whether it was a satellite or a missile. Our main
concern is North Korea’s launch has gone against the nuclear
disarmament [spirit] in East Asia,” Foreign Ministry spokesman
Teuku Faizasyah told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
“We have called for the renewal of six-party talks which stalled
last year because suspicions will continue to grow as long as parties
do not meet and negotiate,” he said.
The six-party members are China, South Korea, North Korea, Japan,
Russia and the United States, who had been working on scaling back
North’s nuclear program since 2003 in exchange for economic
incentives. The last round of negotiations ended December last year in
a stalemate after Pyongyang refused to allow international inspectors
greater access to verify whether nuclear disarmament steps were being
taken.
North Korea launched its long-range rocket on Sunday in a move
international analysts claim violated UN resolution 1718, imposed after
Pyongyang tested a nuclear device in 2006. Under the resolution, North
Korea must abstain from any activity linked to its ballistic missile
program.
As the launch technology for satellites and ballistic missiles are
identical, Washington, Seoul and Tokyo have argued this space launch by
North Korea contributed to the development of its missile capabilities.
The concerned nations claimed the launch could be testing a ballistic
missile with the capacity to carry a warhead potentially as far as
Alaska, a distance of approximately 6,700 km.
Hikmahanto Juwana, professor of international law at the University of
Indonesia, said the launch would spark tensions not only in Asia but
also worldwide during a time when leaders were preoccupied with solving
the economic downturn.
“The main concern now is to ensure North Korea does not engage in
any activities that will endanger global peace. Whether it is a missile
or not, the world will not want to see any new pressure to their
regional stability as they concentrate on coping with the economic
problems,” he said.
This launch may have been North Korea flexing its military muscle, he
said, in response to rumors of its leader’s ailing health and
potential transition of power.
“This launch may have just been a display of supremacy from a nation facing international pressure.”
International analysts have said Washington and Tokyo may seek a UN
resolution condemning the reclusive state’s action, although this
may be met with resistance from China and Russia.
However, Hikmahanto said China and Russia would probably take a tougher
attitude toward North Korea at the UN Security Council, in line with
the United States and Japan.
“They might not talk about incentives for North Korea to scrap
its missile activities. They might want to impose sanctions now,”
he said.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the launch was not conducive to
peace and stability and called on North Korea to return to six-country
talks on ending its nuclear programs.
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