Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. UN Security Council to Discuss North Korea Rocket Launch by Brian Padden The United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency meeting Sunday to discuss North Korea's widely condemned launch of a long-range rocket. The rocket, carried what Pyongyang said was a satellite, was launched Sunday morning from North Korea's Tongchang-ri satellite launching facility near the northwestern border with China. It immediately drew criticism from around the world. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it was "deeply deplorable that (North Korea) has conducted a launch using ballistic missile technology in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions." ''Similar statements were issued by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. South Korea and Japan denounced the launch while China expressed concern that the move will worsen tensions on the Korean peninsula and urged "all relevant parties" to exercise restraint. The long-range rocket launch follows North Korea's fourth nuclear test conducted on January 6. "This is the second time in just over a month that the DPRK (North Korea) has chosen to conduct a major provocation, threatening not only the security of the Korean peninsula, but that of the region and the United States as well," Kerry said. Successful launch North Korea released a statement through its official state news agency KCNA confirming the rocket launch on Sunday. "Scientists and technicians of the DPRK have completely succeeded in entering an Earth observation satellite called Gwangmyongsong-4 into an orbit, which has been developed according to the nation's five-year space development plan of 2016," said a KCNA announcer. ''The rocket headed on a southward trajectory passing over Japan's southern Okinawa islands. The U.S. Strategic Command detected what it called a missile entering space, also indicating the launch was successful. South Korea's Yonhap news agency had earlier reported the rocket failed to reach orbit and instead fell into the sea near South Korea's Jeju islands. Japan reportedly did not take action to shoot down the North Korean rocket, despite warnings that it would and putting its ballistic-missile defense units on alert. Tracking rocket U.S. defense authorities tracking the rocket's trajectory say it did not pose a threat to the United States or its allies. In 2012, North Korea also successfully launched a three-stage rocket putting a satellite into orbit. Pyongyang said the rocket launch is part of its peaceful space program to deliver Earth observation satellites into orbit. ''The North's space program, however, has been widely denounced as a hostile pretense to advance its nuclear and ballistic missiles technologies, which are banned by U.N. resolutions. South Korea and the U.S. have decided to begin discussions about deploying a U.S. missile system to South Korea. Increased sanctions North Korea's January nuclear test already had the U.S and its allies advocating for stronger international sanctions against Pyongyang to impose real economic pain by restricting shipping, aviation, and trade of resources, including coal and fuel, in response to its January. The U.S. Congress is also working on unilateral sanctions legislation that would target third parties companies and banks -- many in China -- that do business with North Korea. South Korea is reportedly considering closing the Kaesong Industrial Complex in response to the North's rocket launch. The jointly run Kaesong project, that employs over 50,000 North Koreans, is the last surviving inter-Korean development program. Virtually all other inter-Korean ties and assistance programs were severed in 2010 after South Korea accused the North of sinking a navy warship and killing 46 sailors. ''For any sanctions to be effective China's support, as the North's chief benefactor and trading partner and as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, is considered essential. But Beijing has been reluctant to support harsh punitive measures on Pyongyang that that could lead to instability and further increase regional tensions. Instead, it wants all sides to resume international negotiations. North Korea reaction Pyongyang said its nuclear weapons program is necessary for national defense and non-negotiable. In early 2009 Pyongyang withdrew from "six-party talks" with Washington, Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing and Moscow to dismantle its nuclear weapons program in exchange for economic assistance and security guarantees. Sunday's launch occurred in the first hours of an accelerated February 7-14 launch time frame Pyongyang announced Saturday. Earlier, it had alerted international meteorological and telecommunications agencies the launch would take place February 8-25. Technology updates North Korea is believed to be working on miniaturizing a nuclear warhead to mount on a missile, but many experts say it is some time away from perfecting such technology. The reclusive state is believed to have over 1,000 Soviet model missiles that can reach targets in South Korea and Japan, and enough plutonium to make eight to 12 nuclear bombs. Last year U.S. military authorities said they believe North Korea has the ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead to fit on a KN-08 long range missile, although North Korea has not yet demonstrated this capability. __________________________________________________________________ [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/un-security-council-to-discuss-north- korea-rocket-launch/3180468.html References 1. http://www.voanews.com/content/un-security-council-to-discuss-north-korea-rocket-launch/3180468.html