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2nd Ld-Writethru: UN Security Council slams DPRK satellite launch
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 22, 2013 (Xinhua via COMTEX) --
The UN Security Council on
Tuesday condemned the satellite launch on Dec. 12 by the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying that
Pyongyang "used ballistic missile technology and was in violation
of resolutions 1718 (2006) and 1874 (2009)."
The 15-nation UN body, in a unanimously-adopted resolution,
said that it "condemns the DPRK's launch of Dec. 12, 2012, which
used ballistic missile technology and was in violation of
resolutions 1718 (2006) and 1874 (2009)."
The Council "demands that the DPRK not proceed with any further
launches using ballistic missile technology, and comply with
resolutions 1718 (2006) and 1874 (2009) by suspending all
activities related to its ballistic missiles program and in this
context re-establishing its pre-existing commitments to a
moratorium on missile launches," said the resolution.
In mid December, the DPRK's official KCNA news agency confirmed
that the country launched and orbited an earth observation
satellite.
According to the KCNA, a Unha-3 rocket carrying the second
version of the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite blasted off from the
Sohae Space Center in Cholsan County, North Phyongan Province at
9: 49 a.m. local time (0049 GMT) on Dec. 12.
The satellite entered its preset orbit 9 minutes and 27 seconds
after the liftoff, said the agency.
After the launch, the DPRK has defended its right to launch a
satellite for peaceful and scientific purposes.
The new Security Council resolution "demands that the DPRK
immediately comply fully with its obligations under resolutions
1718 (2006) and 1874 (2009), including that it abandon all nuclear
weapons and existing nuclear programs in a complete, verifiable
and irreversible manner; immediately cease all related activities,
and not conduct any further launches that use ballistic missile
technology, nuclear test or any further provocation."
Meanwhile, the Council "reaffirms its desire for a peaceful,
diplomatic and political solution to the situation, welcomes
efforts by Council members as well as other states to facilitate a
peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue, and
underlines the need to refrain from any action that might
aggravate tensions," the resolution said.
The Council "reaffirms its support to the Six-Party Talks,
calls for its resumption, urges all the participants to intensify
their efforts on the full and expeditious implementation of the
Sept. 19, 2005 Joint Statement issued by China, the DPRK, Japan,
the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the United
States, with a view to achieving the verifiable denuclearization
of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner and to maintaining
peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia,
" the resolution added.
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