N.Korea makes mockery of deal with US

North Korea announced a plan to launch a long-range rocket just 15 days after agreeing with the U.S. to temporarily halt test-firing long-range missiles. A spokesman’s statement from the North`s space technology committee was carried by the (North) Korean Central News Agency, saying, “We will launch Kwangmyongsong-3, an observation satellite that we developed using our own technology and capacity.” North Korea announced April 12–16 as launch dates. Marking the centennial anniversary (April 15) of the birth of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, Pyongyang is set to conduct a missile show for the world. This is an act of aggression that runs counter to the North Korea-U.S. agreement reached last month. How is it possible to hold dialogue and negotiations with North Korea when it repeatedly makes blank promises?

In U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718 and 1984 adopted after the North’s two nuclear tests, the world demanded that North Korea halt all missile development activities. Pyongyang responded by saying the launch will be of a satellite meant for the peaceful use of science and technology. If a warhead is placed at the tip of the three-phase rocket with a range of 6,700 kilometers, the projectile becomes an inter-continental ballistic missile that can directly reach the U.S. mainland. It is meaningless to differentiate whether the launcher will be a satellite or rocket.

North Korea specified the Tongchang-ri site in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, as the launch station and heralded the completion of its second missile base whose construction began in 2000. The new missile launch station is just 70 kilometers from its nuclear facility in Yongbyon. Intelligence authorities say the station, which is situated on the North Korea-Sino border, is an optimal location for launching ballistic missiles.

In return for 240,000 tons of food aid, North Korea decided to launch a long-range missile after agreeing to an early measure for denuclearization with the U.S. The move is seen as Pyongyang`s bid to promote to the outside world its declaration of being a "strong and prosperous nation" and consolidation of the Kim Jong Un government. This is in line with the North’s launch of the satellite Kwangmyongsong-1 after the completion of Kim Jong Il’s power succession in 1998. As about a month remains until mid-April, South Korea should closely consult with the U.S. and other countries to exert all-out diplomatic efforts to block North Korea from launching a long-range missile.

Pyongyang`s threat came only nine days before Seoul`s scheduled hosting of the Nuclear Security Summit, which will bring together 53 heads of states and international organization. The provocation is also seen as Pyongyang’s bid to increase its bargaining power by using the conference as an opportunity. North Korea`s ruling Workers’ Party, military and government have all stepped forward to threaten South Korea with military aggression day after day, saying South Korea defamed the “supreme dignity” of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his successor, which seems to be a bit worrisome. Pyongyang should keep in mind that if it goes ahead with the missile launch by disregarding global pressure, it can expect extremely harsh sanctions that it could hardly endure.