#1 N Korea threatens 'strong steps'
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:25 pm
BBC
A North Korean diplomat warns "strong steps" would follow should the UN take action against the country after its launch of a satellite on Sunday.
The UN Security Council has been debating whether North Korea should be punished for the launch.
The US, Japan and key European powers say the launch was a ballistic test in clear violation of a UN resolution.
China and Russia have been more cautious, saying they are yet to be convinced Pyongyang broke the rules.
Pyongyang says the test of the three-stage Taepodong-2 rocket was a success, putting a satellite into orbit which is now transmitting data and revolutionary songs.
See satellite images of North Korea's launch pad
The US says the attempt failed.
Further steps?
North Korea's deputy UN ambassador Pak Tok-hun warned the council against trying to punish Pyongyang, insisting his country had only launched a satellite - rather than a missile - at the weekend.
If the 15-member security council took "any kind of steps whatever, we will consider this infringes upon the sovereignty of our country," he said, threatening "necessary and strong steps".
A South Korean soldier watches news of the launch in Seoul on 5 April 2009
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In pictures: Space launch
He did not elaborate on what further steps North Korea might take.
"Every country has the inalienable right to use outer space peacefully," he added.
The US, South Korea and Japan say the launch violates UN Security Council resolution 1718, which was adopted in October 2006 and bans North Korea from carrying out ballistic missile activity.
Japan and the US are pushing for a UN security council resolution which would reinforce and possibly extend the existing sanctions against North Korea, applied in the wake of the country's nuclear test in 2006.
Financial sanctions and a travel ban against North Koreans involved in the weapons programme were never actually applied.
And it is questionable how effective the arms embargo has been, says the BBC's UN correspondent Laura Trevelyan, given that North Korea has the technology to launch a satellite.
Moscow said Sunday's test was a cause for concern, but urged against "hasty conclusions", while China said Pyongyang had the right to a peaceful space programme.
A long-time ally of North Korea, Beijing is opposed to further sanctions, saying they would be counterproductive.
China may regard even the restatement of the existing sanctions as provocative.
It may be that all the major powers can agree on is a statement, rather than a resolution, which is a much stronger, legally binding form of action, our correspondent says.
The UK has not called for a resolution, stressing the need for a strong council response, presumably in order to save face if a statement is all that transpires, she adds.
Discussions at the UN continue.