(Updated 3:35 p.m.) - The Philippine government and the
international community strongly condemned Wednesday the 'surprise'
rocket launch by North Korea (DPRK) earlier in the day.
The debris of the rocket, which was launched at 8:49 a.m. (Philippine time) fell in the sea 300 kilometers east of the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
Local officials said they have not yet received reports of any untoward incidents related to the launch.
In a press statement, the DFA said the launch was in clear violation of
United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1695 (2006), 1874 (2009)
and 1718 (2006), which explicitly demanded North Korea not to use or
conduct any launch using ballistic missile technology and the suspension
of its ballistic missile program.
The
Philippine government firmly urged North Korea to desist from acts of
provocation and to end its use or testing of ballistic missile
technology.
It also joined other governments in
urging North Korea to undertake steps toward confidence-building and
engagement with the international community in order to ensure peace and
stability in the Korean Peninsula and the entire Asia Pacific region.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, a South Korean, said the missile launch could negatively impact prospects for peace and security in the region.
"The Secretary-General deplores the rocket launch announced by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)," Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky said in a statement.
"The Secretary-General deplores the rocket launch announced by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)," Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky said in a statement.
Nesirky said
Ban has been urging North Korea's leaders not to launch a missile but
"instead to build confidence with its neighbors while taking steps to
improve the lives of its people."
"The
Secretary-General is concerned about the negative consequences that this
provocative act may have on peace and stability in the region," the
statement said, adding that Ban was in touch with "concerned"
governments.
The United States, on the other hand, vowed to work with international partners to seek "appropriate action" against Pyongyang.
"The United States remains vigilant in the face of North Korean
provocations and fully committed to the security of our allies in the
region," White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said, pledging that
Washington would increase close cooperation with its friends in the
region.
"In the hours and days ahead, the United
States will work with its six-party partners, the United Nations
Security Council and other U.N. member states to pursue appropriate
action," Vietor said. "The international community must work in a
concerted fashion to send North Korea a clear message that its
violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions have
consequences."
China, as well, had expressed
"deep concern" over the launch which was announced a day after a visit
by a top politburo member to Pyongyang when he met Kim Jong-un.
China's state news agency Xinhua said North Korea had the "right to conduct peaceful exploration of outer space."
But it added: "Pyongyang should also abide by relevant U.N. Security
Council resolutions, including Resolution 1874, which demands (North
Korea) not to conduct 'any launch using ballistic missile technology'
and urges it to 'suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile
program.'"
Meanwhile, Russia expressed "deep
regret" over North Korea's rocket launch on Wednesday, saying the
reclusive nation had violated a UN Security Council resolution limiting
its use of ballistic technology.
Russia's
Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the North Korean launch had
heightened instability in the region and called on other nations to
refrain from further escalating tensions.
"The new rocket launch carried out by North Korea flaunts the opinion of
the international community, including calls from the Russian side, and
leaves us with deep regret," it said.
No advance notice
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council was surprised with North Korea's move as it allegedly did not give other countries advance notice that it will proceed with the launch.
The NDRRMC had remained on red alert since Saturday, even when North
Korea said it would postpone the launch to later this month.
Two government ships have been sent to the area where debris from a rocket launched by North Korea was believed to have fallen.
NDRRMC head Benito Ramos said crews of the two ships—one each from the
Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard—were instructed to assist
anyone who may have figured in an accident in the area.
The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute also prepared a team to go to the area as well.
PNRI head Alumanda dela Rosa said a four-member team will be deployed
to the area and will coordinate with the NDRRMC to check for possible
dangerous components in the debris, though she said their information
indicates the rocket had no nuclear component.
As this developed, disaster management officials in Northern and Central
Luzon said they have not monitored any untoward incident related to the
launch.
“'Yung aming monitoring wala namang
reported na mga untoward incidents relative to the NoKor rocket launc.
So far wala akong namomonitor even sa other areas na meron silang survey
kung meron nga bang mga debris na bumagsak,” said Norman Talosig,
director of the Office of Civil Defense region II.
In April, North Korea also launched a long-range rocket but it crashed into the sea a few minutes after.
North Korea claimed that, this time, the rocket launch was a success.
North Korea's space agency earlier said that it had worked on
"improving the reliability and precision of the satellite and carrier
rocket" since April's launch.
North Korea
also said that the aim of the launch was to put a weather satellite in
orbit. It also said that its rockets are for peaceful scientific
purposes.
The failed rocket launch in April
was held to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of North Korea
founder Kim Il Sung. The latest launch, on the other hand, took place
close to the Dec. 17 date of the death of former leader Kim Jong-il. — with a report from Reuters/KG/RSJ, GMA News
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