Editor's Note

North Korea has vowed to take "physical actions" and strengthen its nuclear deterrence in response to a UN resolution prohibiting its ballistic missile program on January 23.

North Korean officials said in a statement carried by the official news agency KCNA that the country will end its efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, and threatened to step up its military development.

The 15-member UN Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution to require the DPRK to comply with all relevant resolutions which bar it from any launch involving ballistic missile technology.

Latest News

DPRK threatens ‘all-out action’ against US
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday vowed to conduct more rocket launches and a higher-level nuclear test targeting its "sworn enemy" -- the United States.

N.Korea threatens end to nuclear talks

North Korea on Wednesday vehemently rejected the latest resolution unanimously approved by the UN Security Council and threatened to close the door on denuclearization talks and to boost its military capabilities, including nuclear deterrence.

Japan appreciates UN resolution on DPRK rocket launch: FM
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said on January 23 that Japan welcomes the adoption of a United Nations Security Council resolution on condemning a rocket launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on December 12.

 

China says new UN resolution on DPRK 'generally balanced'
A senior Chinese diplomat said on January 22 that the latest UN resolution on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is "an outcome of many rounds of consultations by all parties concerned" and is " generally balanced."

UN Security Council approves resolution on DPRK satellite launch
The United Nations Security Council approved at early hours on January 23 (Beijing Time) a resolution on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK's) satellite launch in December last year.

The Resolution

The UN Security Council: Pyongyang "used ballistic missile technology and was in violation of resolutions 1718 (2006) and 1874 (2009)."

The new UN 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."

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 September 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.

Source: Xinhua

Responses

	UN: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on January 22 welcomed the fresh resolution, saying that "dialogue is the only way to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as well as durable peace in the region. "Speaking with one voice, the Security Council reiterated its firm stance that the DPRK's pursuit of nuclear weapons, including means of delivery, is unacceptable," said Ban in a statement through his spokesman.
	North Korea: North Korea has denied accusations by the UN and the international powers that the rocket was a ballistic test. Pyongyang said it was launching an observation satellite. There will be no more discussions on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in the future, but the country is open to talks on peace and security, the DPRK Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by the official news agency KCNA. The DPRK also vowed to "take physical actions to strengthen self-defense military capabilities including nuclear deterrence."
	South Korea: "We express our deep regret (over the statement)," Park Soo- jin, a spokeswoman for Seoul's unification ministry, told reporters during a press briefing. "We urge North Korea (DPRK) to stop making threats of additional provocation and make denuclearization efforts through concrete action."
	China: China's permanent representative to the United Nations Li Baodong said the resolution is an outcome of many rounds of consultations by all parties concerned and is "generally balanced." "The resolution ... not only shows the stance of the international community on the DPRK's satellite launch, but also delivers some positive information, including calls for a peaceful solution to the (Korean) Peninsula issue through dialogue and negotiation as well as the resumption of the six-party talks," Li said. Li added that China holds a "clear and consistent" stance on DPRK's launch, and that the Security Council's response should be "prudent and moderate," be conducive to peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula, and help avoid the progressive escalation of tensions.
	Japan: Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said on January 23 that Japan welcomes the adoption of a United Nations Security Council resolution on condemning a rocket launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on December 12.
	US: US ambassador Susan Rice said the resolution was a sign that the DPRK will have "an increasingly steep price" to pay if it chooses confrontation with the international community.
	Russia: Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin voiced Moscow's backing for the draft text last week.

Media Comments

	China: UN resolution on DPRK "generally balanced" China’s permanent representative to the United Nations has said that the resolution is an outcome of many rounds of consultations by all parties concerned and is "generally balanced."
	Toughened UN sanctions target N. Korea's space tech committee, officials Sanctions adopted by the United Nations on January 23 (Korea time) specifically target North Korea's space technology committee and the officials who played a major part in the launching of its long-range rocket in December.
	Japan praises UN resolution condemning N. Korean rocket launch Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said on January 23 that Japan welcomes the adoption of a resolution approved by the United Nations Security Council, which condemned a satellite launch of the North Korea on December 12.
	North Korea says will boost nuclear deterrent after UN rebuke The UN Security Council on January 22 unanimously condemned North Korea's December rocket launch and expanded existing UN sanctions, eliciting a vow from Pyongyang to boost the North's military and nuclear capabilities.
	North Korea in nuclear warning after UN rocket resolution The UN Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution condemning a rocket launch by North Korea and tightening sanctions, diplomats say.

Stir over Satellite

In mid December last year,  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 am local time (0049 GMT) on December 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.

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