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| North Korea rocket launch: UN to hold emergency meeting | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| There will be an emergency meeting of the UN security council in New York after the US, South Korea and Japan called for discussions on a response to North Korea’s launch of a long-range rocket. | |
| World leaders have warned of serious consequences after North Korea launched a rocket on Sunday morning, in defiance of international sanctions banning it from using ballistic missile technology. | |
| The security council has already been discussing a new round of sanctions against the Pyongyang regime following its fourth nuclear test last month. In a statement, the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon condemned the launch as “deeply deplorable” and urged North Korea to “halt its provocative actions”. | |
| Pyongyang said the rocket had successfully put an Earth observation satellite into orbit, but the US and its allies believe the regime uses satellite launches as covert tests of technology that could be used to develop a missile capable of striking the US mainland. | Pyongyang said the rocket had successfully put an Earth observation satellite into orbit, but the US and its allies believe the regime uses satellite launches as covert tests of technology that could be used to develop a missile capable of striking the US mainland. |
| Related: Diplomacy alone will defuse North Korea. The US must lead the way | Charles K Armstrong | Related: Diplomacy alone will defuse North Korea. The US must lead the way | Charles K Armstrong |
| North Korean state TV said in a special announcement on Sunday lunchtime that the launch, ordered the previous day by the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, had been a “complete success”. | North Korean state TV said in a special announcement on Sunday lunchtime that the launch, ordered the previous day by the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, had been a “complete success”. |
| An announcer said the Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite – named after the late leader Kim Jong-il – was orbiting Earth every 94 minutes, adding that North Korea planned further satellite launches. | |
| The launch demonstrated North Korea’s right to develop a “peaceful and independent” space programme, but the announcer noted that it marked a “breakthrough in boosting our national defence capability”. | The launch demonstrated North Korea’s right to develop a “peaceful and independent” space programme, but the announcer noted that it marked a “breakthrough in boosting our national defence capability”. |
| The US Strategic Command said it had detected a missile entering space and South Korea’s military said the launch appeared to have been a success. | The US Strategic Command said it had detected a missile entering space and South Korea’s military said the launch appeared to have been a success. |
| John Schilling, a missile technology expert, said it bore similarities to a previous successful North Korean rocket launch just over three years ago. “Everything we have seen is consistent with a successful repeat of the 2012 launch,” said Schilling, who is involved in the “38 North” monitoring project at Johns Hopkins University. “But it’s still too early to tell for sure.” | John Schilling, a missile technology expert, said it bore similarities to a previous successful North Korean rocket launch just over three years ago. “Everything we have seen is consistent with a successful repeat of the 2012 launch,” said Schilling, who is involved in the “38 North” monitoring project at Johns Hopkins University. “But it’s still too early to tell for sure.” |
| The launch drew immediate condemnation from other countries in the region and from Washington. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, said it was “a flagrant violation of UN security council resolutions” banning Pyongyang from using ballistic missile technology. | The launch drew immediate condemnation from other countries in the region and from Washington. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, said it was “a flagrant violation of UN security council resolutions” banning Pyongyang from using ballistic missile technology. |
| South Korea said on Sunday that it and the US would begin discussion on deploying an advanced missile-defence system to counter the growing threat of North Korea’s weapons capabilities. | |
| US military officials have said the sophisticated system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) was needed in South Korea, which faces the threat of an increasingly advanced North Korean missile programme. | US military officials have said the sophisticated system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) was needed in South Korea, which faces the threat of an increasingly advanced North Korean missile programme. |
| “If THAAD is deployed to the Korean peninsula, it will be only operated against North Korea,” Ryu Je-seung, a senior official at the South Korean defence ministry said in a joint news conference with Thomas Vandal, commander of the Eighth US Army based in South Korea. | |
| Kerry said the launch was “a major provocation, threatening not only the security of the Korean peninsula, but that of the region and the United States as well”. He reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad commitment to the defence of our allies”, including South Korea and Japan. | |
| The US national security adviser, Susan Rice, called on the international community to show Pyongyang that its “reckless actions must have serious consequences”. | |
| “North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests including the security of some of our closest allies and undermine peace and security in the broader region,” she said. | “North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests including the security of some of our closest allies and undermine peace and security in the broader region,” she said. |
| Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, said the launch was “absolutely unacceptable” and a “clear violation” of UN security council resolutions, while the South Korean president, Park Geun-hye, described it as “an unforgivable act of provocation”. | Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, said the launch was “absolutely unacceptable” and a “clear violation” of UN security council resolutions, while the South Korean president, Park Geun-hye, described it as “an unforgivable act of provocation”. |
| The Foreign Office “strongly” condemned the launch and said the UK would work cooperate with a “robust” response, as well as putting pressure on North Korea through diplomatic channels. | |
| A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “North Korea is fully aware that multiple UN security council resolutions prohibit the use of ballistic missile technology. | |
| “We will work with allies and partners to ensure there is a robust response if the DPRK persists in violating these resolutions. We will also emphasise to North Korea through diplomatic channels that such actions will only serve to isolate the country further.” | |
| China, North Korea’s only major ally, “expressed regret” about the launch. “With regards to the DPRK’s insistence on implementing a launch of missile technology in the face of international opposition, China expresses regret,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. | China, North Korea’s only major ally, “expressed regret” about the launch. “With regards to the DPRK’s insistence on implementing a launch of missile technology in the face of international opposition, China expresses regret,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. |
| Earlier, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency had speculated that Sunday’s launch may have failed, but later quoted a military official as saying the North appeared to have put a satellite into orbit. | Earlier, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency had speculated that Sunday’s launch may have failed, but later quoted a military official as saying the North appeared to have put a satellite into orbit. |
| The launch took place between 9.30-9.35 am local time at the Sohae satellite launch centre in Tongchang-ri on the north-west coast of North Korea, reports said. | |
| Japan’s public broadcaster NHK said debris from the multistage rocket had fallen about 155 miles off the south-west coast of the Korean peninsula into the East China Sea about 14 minutes after the launch. | |
| Japan had deployed missile defence batteries on land and out at sea, with the country’s defence forces under orders to shoot down the rocket if it threatened Japanese territory. | Japan had deployed missile defence batteries on land and out at sea, with the country’s defence forces under orders to shoot down the rocket if it threatened Japanese territory. |
| NHK broke into normal programming to break news of the launch and showed live footage of Patriot missile batteries on the island of Okinawa. It also showed an object visible in the skies from Okinawa that was believed to be the rocket. | NHK broke into normal programming to break news of the launch and showed live footage of Patriot missile batteries on the island of Okinawa. It also showed an object visible in the skies from Okinawa that was believed to be the rocket. |
| Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said no debris had fallen on Japanese territory. | Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said no debris had fallen on Japanese territory. |
| The launch came a month after North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test, although experts are highly sceptical of Pyongyang’s claim that the test involved a powerful hydrogen bomb. | The launch came a month after North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test, although experts are highly sceptical of Pyongyang’s claim that the test involved a powerful hydrogen bomb. |
| Under Kim Jong-un, North Korea has stepped up attempts to build a long-range missile and miniaturise nuclear warheads, claiming that it has the right to develop a nuclear deterrent in the face of US hostility towards the regime. | Under Kim Jong-un, North Korea has stepped up attempts to build a long-range missile and miniaturise nuclear warheads, claiming that it has the right to develop a nuclear deterrent in the face of US hostility towards the regime. |
| Analysts said Kim had probably concluded that launching the rocket just weeks after the 6 January nuclear test would limit the UN’s ability to take dramatic punitive steps. | Analysts said Kim had probably concluded that launching the rocket just weeks after the 6 January nuclear test would limit the UN’s ability to take dramatic punitive steps. |
| “North Korea likely calculates that a launch so soon after the nuclear test will probably only incrementally affect the UN sanctions arising from that test,” said Alison Evans, a senior analyst at IHS Jane’s. | “North Korea likely calculates that a launch so soon after the nuclear test will probably only incrementally affect the UN sanctions arising from that test,” said Alison Evans, a senior analyst at IHS Jane’s. |
| North Korea is thought to have a small arsenal of atomic bombs, as well as short- and medium-range missiles, but experts believe it is still some way off developing warheads small enough to be mounted on a missile. | North Korea is thought to have a small arsenal of atomic bombs, as well as short- and medium-range missiles, but experts believe it is still some way off developing warheads small enough to be mounted on a missile. |
| There are doubts, too, about the reliability of its long-range missile technology. “An ICBM warhead, unlike a satellite, needs to come down as well as go up,” said John Schilling, an aerospace engineer who has closely followed the North’s missile programme. | There are doubts, too, about the reliability of its long-range missile technology. “An ICBM warhead, unlike a satellite, needs to come down as well as go up,” said John Schilling, an aerospace engineer who has closely followed the North’s missile programme. |
| “North Korea has never demonstrated the ability to build a reentry vehicle that can survive at even half the speed an ICBM would require. If and when they do, what is presently a theoretical threat will become very real and alarming.” | “North Korea has never demonstrated the ability to build a reentry vehicle that can survive at even half the speed an ICBM would require. If and when they do, what is presently a theoretical threat will become very real and alarming.” |
| Kim Jong-un, who became leader in late 2011 after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, has overseen two of North Korea’s four nuclear tests as well as three long-range rocket tests. | |
| The country last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, sending into orbit an object it described as a communications satellite, although intelligence experts say the satellite never functioned properly. | The country last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, sending into orbit an object it described as a communications satellite, although intelligence experts say the satellite never functioned properly. |
| North Korea had notified UN agencies on Saturday that it was moving the time frame for the launch forward to between 7 and 14 February. It had originally said the launch would take place between 8 and 25 February. | North Korea had notified UN agencies on Saturday that it was moving the time frame for the launch forward to between 7 and 14 February. It had originally said the launch would take place between 8 and 25 February. |