WASHINGTON:
The United States and its allies rushed
to condemn North Korea's failed rocket launch as a "provocative act"
which threatened regional security, while Pyongyang's main ally China remained
silent.
The
United States lashed out at North Korean "propaganda displays" and
said Friday's launch breached its commitments and harmed Asian security.
"North
Korea is only further isolating itself by engaging in provocative acts, and is
wasting its money on weapons and propaganda displays while the North Korean
people go hungry," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
"Despite
the failure of its attempted missile launch, North Korea's provocative action
threatens regional security, violates international law and contravenes its own
recent commitments," Carney said.
Washington's
key regional allies, Seoul and Tokyo, spoke in unison, blasting the launch as a
contravention of United Nations resolutions.
"North
Korea's launch... is a clear breach of the UN resolution that prohibits any
launch using ballistic missile technology. It is a provocative act threatening
peace and security on the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia," South
Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan said.
Tokyo,
which had vowed to intercept any rocket that appeared to threaten its
territory, agreed the launch was likely to have been a missile, not the
satellite-carrying rocket Pyongyang had claimed it to be.
"Even
if it was a failure, it is a grave provocation to our country and other
countries concerned and violates UN Security Council resolutions," Chief
Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said.
North
Korea's sole patron, China, did not immediately respond to the launch, with
official media only citing foreign reporting on the launch.
On
Tuesday Beijing had called on all parties to "exercise restraint" and
avoid an escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Foreign
ministers from the Group of Eight powers swiftly condemned North Korea and said
they would consider action at the UN Security Council.
"We
call on the DPRK to abstain from further launches using ballistic missile
technology or other actions which aggravate the situation on the Korean
Peninsula," the G8 said, referring to the North by its official name, the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"We
are ready to consider, with others, taking measures responding to all
activities of the DPRK that violate UN Security Council Resolutions, and
calling for appropriate response by the United Nations Security Council,"
it said.
The
Group of Eight -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and
the United States -- did not spell out what measures they would seek at the
world body.
Separately
British Foreign Secretary William Hague expressed "deep concern" over
the launch, which he said was a clear violation of the UN ban, and called for a
robust response from the international community.
German
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle also quickly condemned the move, telling AFP
it was a "violation of international obligations and will increase
tensions on the Korean peninsula".
The
15-member UN Security Council was to meet in emergency session on Friday
"to decide its next step" following the action, a UN diplomat said.
Australia
was in lockstep with its Western allies, with Prime Minister Julia Gillard
urging a "robust response" from the Security Council.
"Regardless
of its outcome, this launch was provocative and dangerous," she said in a
statement.
But
Indonesia struck a cautious note, urging calm in the wake of the launch.
"At
this critical juncture, it is important that all project calm and exercise
maximum restraint," Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said.
"More
than ever, it is vital that diplomacy and dialogue be placed at the forefront
in order to ensure peace and stability on the Korean peninsula," he said.
-
AFP/wm
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Healthcare and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programmes. Many thanks for visiting www.yourvietnamexpert.com and/or contacting us at contact@yourvietnamexpert.com
No comments:
Post a Comment