NK leader rejected delaying rocket launch to May: source

The North Korean Foreign Ministry is known to have asked its supreme leader Kim Jong Un in February talks with the U.S. to delay the planned launch of a long-range missile to early May, but objections from the North`s military got the request rejected.

According to a North Korean source Tuesday, the North Korean Foreign Ministry asked Kim around the time Pyongyang and Washington reached the Feb. 29 agreement to delay the announcement on the launch of the Kwangmyongsong-3 around early May.

The ministry is known to have said, “Given the possibility of difficulty implementing agreements between the U.S. and us such as the return of international nuclear inspectors and food aid in May, we can push ahead with the rocket launch using them as an excuse.”

The ministry is also known to have persuaded the North Korean leader by saying the announcement in May could boost the effects of political events held in April such as the centennial birthday of the Stalinist country`s founder Kim Il Sung and the annual conference of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party.

Nevertheless, Pak Do Chun, party secretary for arms, and Ri Yong Ho, chief of the general staff of the North Korean People`s Army, backed the launch to proceed as scheduled April 15. They are known to have said Pyongyang could insist the rocket is a satellite for peaceful purposes, and the U.S., which wants the North to stop its uranium enrichment program, "cannot spoil the mood easily."

Kim ultimately sided with hard-line military brass, and the launch plan was announced just 16 days after the Feb. 29 agreement was made, according to the North Korean source.

“Kim Jong Un, who likes deceiving intelligence wars, seems to have sided with hard-line party and military top brass without understanding that the U.S. values promises and trust,” the source said.

A government official in Seoul also said, “The long-range missile launch needs a long period of preparation, but North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho was apparently unaware of the timing of the sudden announcement.”

The North Korean source said, “It seems that Kim Jong Un is being swayed by hard-liners due to lack of power,” adding, “We`ve also discovered circumstances that Kim Jong Un is issuing reckless orders without considering the reality in North Korea.”

After being notified of electricity and food shortages in February, Kim reportedly grew enraged and said, “Normalize supply no matter what.”

After forbidding his people from using foreign currency in January, he was criticized for ignorance of the market situation, but despite this, high-ranking officials are known to be refraining from opposing him to avoid irritating the leader.

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