Friday, 27 March 2009Russia joined to the critics on Friday by urging North Korea to refrain from its planned rocket launch which Pyongyang says is aimed at putting a satellite into orbit.
After North Korea announced plans last month to launch what it says is a communications satellite from its Musudan-ri launch site in early April, critics from the U.S., Japan and South Korea draws attention. Regional powers believe the real purpose is to test a long-range missile, the Taepodong-2, which is believed to be already in place on its launch pad.
After the U.S., Japan and the South Korea; Russia said on Friday North Korea should abstain from launching a rocket and called for dialogue with Pyongyang to resolve the situation.
A deputy Russian foreign minister said that Russia has constantly emphasized the need to avoid antagonizing the issue. "We need to calmly evaluate the situation without any commotion or counter threats, and all of the issues surrounding the launch should be decided through dialogue and consultations between the interested countries," he added. Russia shares a small border with North Korea in the Far East and its main Pacific port of Vladivostok lies only 150 km (95 miles) from the North Korean border.
The United States has warned it would take the matter to the United Nations if Pyongyang goes ahead with the launch. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has warned North Korea that the firing of a missile of any kind would be a "provocative act" that could harm the six-party negotiations on the country's denuclearization.
As is well known the talks, involving the two Koreas, the United States, Russia, China and Japan, came to a standstill last December, over North Korea's refusal to allow international inspections at nuclear sites.
The last time North Korea launched a Taepodong-2, on July 4, 2006, the missile failed seconds after launch. Success this time would show that it is capable of reaching Alaska or Hawaii with a nuclear capable missile.
by Simge Soyer, JTW
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Friday, 27 March 2009
Journal of Turkish Weekly
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