North Korea launches spy satellite into space: several countries call it a violation of UN resolutions
North Korea claims to have successfully launched a military spy satellite into space. The Japanese government issued an emergency warning to the population. The United States, South Korea and Japan condemn Pyongyang’s actions, which they say violate UN resolutions.
This was reported by BBC.News.
The DPRK’s state news agency reported that a military spy satellite called Malligyong-1 had entered orbit. The launch was personally observed by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the launch of the satellite, which flew over Okinawa Prefecture and continued to the Pacific Ocean. The Japanese government issued a short-term emergency warning, urging Okinawans to take shelter. This year, the DPRK tried twice to launch a military satellite into orbit, but failed, so it informed Japan of its intention to make a third attempt.
Kishida condemned the launch “in the strongest possible terms” and said a complaint had been filed with North Korea.
“Even if the goal is to launch a satellite, the use of ballistic missile technology is a clear violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” Kishida said.
The White House called the move a “brazen violation” of several UN resolutions.
After the launch, South Korea announced that it would resume surveillance along its border with the North, thus taking steps to suspend part of the agreement agreed by the two countries in 2018 aimed at reducing military tensions.
The launch took place earlier than expected, outside the nine-day window Pyongyang had notified Japan about. The launch was to take place on November 22 and end on November 30.
The DPRK said that the operation used the Sohae launch complex in the northwest of the country, near the border with China, but North Korea’s claims of a successful launch of a spy satellite have not yet been confirmed.
