JAPAN’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told journalists on Monday (February 8) that Japan is preparing to decide whether to impose measures against North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) after it launched what it said was a satellite early on Sunday (February 7) morning.
North Korea’s launch of a long-range rocket carrying what it called a satellite drew renewed international condemnation just weeks after it carried out a nuclear weapon test.
Critics of the rocket program say it is being used to test technology for a long-range missile.
“From the perspective of what would be the most effective method, the government is preparing to decide the specifics of a measure,” Suga said during his daily morning news conference.
Suga added that he hoped China would take a tough stance over the recent rocket launch.
“China agrees as well, (with the United Nations Security Council statement), so we hope they will take a tough, swift stance,” Suga said.
The U.S. Strategic Command said it had detected a rocket entering space, and South Korea’s military said the rocket had put an object into orbit.
North Korea said the launch of the satellite Kwangmyongsong-4, named after late leader Kim Jong Il, was a “complete success” and it was making a polar orbit of Earth every 94 minutes. The launch order was given by his son, leader Kim Jong Un, who is believed to be 33 years old.
The rocket lifted off at around 9:30 a.m. Seoul time (0030 GMT) on a southward trajectory, as planned. Japan’s Fuji Television Network showed a streak of light heading into the sky, taken from a camera at China’s border with North Korea.
North Korea had notified United Nations agencies that it planned to launch a rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite, triggering opposition from governments which see it as a long-range missile test.
The U.N. Security Council condemned the launch in an emergency meeting on Sunday, and vowed to take “significant measures” in response to Pyongyang’s violations of U.N. resolutions, Venezuela’s U.N. ambassador said. (Reuters)