US calls for 'real consequences' against North Korea's rocket launch

The United States said Tuesday North Korea's planned satellite launch would violate numerous U.N. resolutions, stressing that the international community must impose "real consequences" for Pyongyang's provocative actions.

Earlier in the day, the North notified the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that it will launch an earth observation satellite between Feb. 8-25, confirming widespread concern the communist nation is readying for a banned long-range rocket launch just weeks after its fourth nuclear test.

"This act would violate numerous Security Council resolutions by utilizing proscribed ballistic missile technolgy. It also comes on the heels, as you know, of the Jan. 6 nuclear test, which is itself an egregious violation of U.N. Security Council resolution," State Department spokesman John Kirby said at a regular briefing.

The international community must impose "real consequences for the regime's destabilizing actions and respond with steadily increasing pressure," Kirby said, echoing remarks that U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power made right after the North's nuclear test.

"The Security Council has a key role to play in holding North Korea accountable by imposing a tough, comprehensive and incredible package of new sanctions and by ensuring rigorous enforcement of the resolutions it has already adopted," he said.

"This latest announcement further underscores the need for the international community to send the North Koreans a swift, firm message that its disregard for U.N. Security Council resolutions will not be tolerated," he added.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest also denounced the planned satellite launch as "irresponsible."

"I feel confident in telling you that the international community would regard a step like that by the North Koreans as just another irresponsible provocation and a clear violation of their international obligations," he said at a briefing.

Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel also warned of tough sanctions, saying the North is defying the international community, including the Security Council and China, "to the detriment of regional peace and security, and to the detriment of North Korean people itself."

"This argues even more strongly for action by the U.N. Security Council and the international community to impose real consequences for the destabilizing action that the DPRK has taken, is taking, and to raise the cost to the leaders through the imposition of tough additional sanctions," he said, according to news reports.

In a thinly veiled swipe at China, the North's main benefactor, Russel also said that a satellite launch "would be an unmistakable slap in the face to those who argue that you just need to show patience and dialogue with the North Koreans, but not sanctions." (Yonhap)