By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
With North Korea readying a rocket launch, South Korea, Japan and the United States share the view that raising the issue at the United Nations has now become unavoidable.
However, China and Russia, permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), are showing a lukewarm stance toward imposing sanctions over Pyongyang's self-proclaimed ``satellite'' launch.
To impose U.N. sanctions, a unanimous ``yes'' vote is required at the council.
``North Korea would violate U.N. Resolution 1718 if it launched a rocket and will face countermeasures,'' South Korea's top nuclear envoy Wi Sung-lac said following talks with the U.S. envoy on North Korea, Stephen Bosworth; and Sung Kim, the US special envoy responsible for the six-way talks on ending the North's nuclear ambitions, March 27.
He did not offer detail on any UN actions against the planned launch, saying ``I will not prejudge or predict what action the council will take. The decision is up to the council.''
His Japanese counterpart, Akitaka Saiki, also reaffirmed Japan's hard-line as reported by the Kyodo News Agency; ``We will immediately discuss the matter at the council.''
North Korea informed international organizations early this month of its plan to launch a satellite anytime between April 4 and April 8 as part of its national space program.
Yet, many analysts speculate that it will be a test launch of a Taepodong-2 long-range missile, theoretically capable of hitting Alaska and Hawaii.
The planned launch has also unnerved neighboring countries because the same launch vehicle is udused for both missiles and satellites.
Despite the consensus in Korea, the United States and Japan, Russia and China appear to be sitting on the fence on penalizing North Korea.
China, North Korea's only ally, has said that Pyongyang is just preparing to send a communications satellite into orbit as announced, saying that the launch would not be a substantial threat to other countries. Russia has concluded that a ``satellite'' launch would not breach UN Resolution 1718, according to the Radio Free Asia.
Quoting multiple diplomatic sources in Washington and Seoul, the report said Moscow recently notified the United States of its position.
Under UN Resolution 1718, adopted with no vetoes in October 2006, North Korea was subject to a series of economic sanctions three month after its nuclear test, among which was a ban on the sales of luxury goods to the North.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will immediately issue a statement if the isolated state follows through with the launch.
He was quoted as saying by RIA-Novosti in Moscow, ``I'm worried about North Korea's steps toward launching a satellite or rocket. This will have great complications for peace and stability in the region.''