South Korea condemns failed North Korean missile launch

Record ID: 84257

  • Title: South Korea condemns failed North Korean missile launch
  • Date: 20th October 2016
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (OCTOBER 20, 2016) (REUTERS) SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, CHO JUNE-HYUCK, BOWING AND STANDING AT PODIUM JOURNALISTS LISTENING CHO SPEAKING AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, CHO JUNE-HYUCK, SAYING: "As (North Korea) fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile, which is a clear violation of the UNSC (United Nations Security Council) resolution regardless of its success or failure, the government strongly condemns it as it is a great threat to the peace and security of the Korean peninsula and international society as a whole." JOURNALISTS TYPING (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, CHO JUNE-HYUCK, SAYING: "Fundamentally, it is a clear violation of the UNSC resolution which bans any kind of missile launch involving the use of ballistic missile technology, even if North Korea launches a missile under the name of a satellite launch. (The government) urges North Korea to stop any kind of sophistry and immediately abide by the UNSC resolution that reflects the consensus of the international society." NEWS BRIEFING IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING SIGN READING (in Korean and English): "MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS"
  • Embargoed: 4th November 2016 06:44
  • Keywords: Seoul foreign ministry North Korea reaction missile condemnation launch
  • Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Defence,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00154T7FPJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: South Korea's foreign ministry said on Thursday (October 20) that the government strongly condemned North Korea's latest missile launch, a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, "regardless of its success or failure".
    "The government strongly condemns it as it is a great threat to the peace and security of the Korean peninsula and international society as a whole," foreign ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck said at a regular news briefing on Thursday.
    The North test-fired a missile that failed immediately after launch early on Thursday, U.S. and South Korean militaries said, hours after the two countries agreed to step up efforts to counter the North's nuclear and missile threats.
    The missile was believed to be an intermediate-range Musudan and was launched from the western city of Kusong, where the isolated state attempted but failed to launch the same type of missile on Saturday (October 15), the U.S. Strategic Command and South Korea's Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
    North Korea has been conducting activities related to its nuclear and missile programmes at an unprecedented pace this year in defiance of U.N. sanctions and diplomatic pressure and is believed to be making progress in its efforts to develop a nuclear missile.
    Cho also said that a satellite launch using a ballistic missile technology would also not be tolerated, after the North said that it would continue to launch satellites despite its rival South's objections.
    "(The government) urges North Korea to stop any kind of sophistry and immediately abide by the UNSC resolution that reflects the consensus of the international society," he said.
    Pyongyang says it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme by launching rockets carrying satellites, most recently in February, although Washington and Seoul worry that such launches are missile tests in disguise.
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