I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
Lee to discuss NK rocket launch with global leaders
Seoul accuses Pyongyang of developing nuclear missile
By Kang Hyun-kyung
President Lee Myung-bak will have talks with global leaders next week to discuss a coordinated response to North Korea’s alleged satellite launch slated for sometime between April 12 and 16.
Lee will meet his counterparts from the United States, China, Japan, Russia and the European Union (EU) on the sidelines of the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit slated for March 26 and 27 to counter the threat posed by the North, according to Cheong Wa Dae Monday.
Seoul characterized Pyongyang’s launch of its latest Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite, using its new Unha-3 rocket, as a grave threat.
“South Korea believes what the North calls a satellite launch is a disguised act to develop a long-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, and therefore constitutes an act of grave provocation,” Park Jeong-ha, a presidential spokesman, said in a special briefing.
Lee convened a meeting with Cabinet members from ministries related to foreign affairs, unification and security, days after North Korea announced plans to blast a satellite into space on the top of a long-range rocket to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of its late founder Kim Il-sung.
During the meeting, Park said, the President received a briefing on the rocket launch and related security issues.
The military authorities have set up a task force and issued their highest level of alert after the announcement, which came 10 days before the nuclear summit.
They are reportedly preparing for all possible scenarios.
Earlier, the North elaborated that the launch has peaceful purposes, and it would abide by international rules on the satellite launch.
In an announcement through a state-controlled media aired Friday, the North’s Committee for Space Technology said it would pay extra attention so that toxic waste from the rocket wouldn’t damage neighboring countries.
Despite the elaboration, the North’s announcement has drawn condemnation from the international community.
In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the launch would pose a threat to regional security and would also be inconsistent with North Korea’s recent commitment to refrain from long-range missile tests.
Clinton called the North’s announcement “highly provocative.”
Earlier, Pyongyang agreed with Washington to halt long-range missile tests and allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor its nuclear activities. The North made these commitments in return for 240,000 metric tons of food aid from the United States.
China, North Korea’s decades-long benefactor, also expressed concern over the announcement.
Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun called in North Korea’s ambassador to deliver Beijing’s worries. During the meeting, the Chinese official was quoted as saying that all sides concerned should “stay calm and exercise restraint and avoid escalation of tension that may lead to a more complicated situation.”
Japan set up a crisis management task force to closely watch the situation, while pledging to work together with South Korea and the United States.
Osamu Fujimura, chief cabinet secretary, said the launch would be a move to interfere with the effort toward dialogue, urging the North to scrap the plan.
Quoting Japan’s defense minister, a local Japanese media reported Tokyo would shoot down the North Korean rocket if it passes through its airspace.
The international community said the launch is a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.