Sunday, April 15, 2012

UN Security Council Members "Deplore" N. Korea Rocket Launch




The international community has been vocal in its opposition to North Korea's controversial rocket launch.
The 15-member United Nations Security Council, headed by the United States this month, convened an emergency meeting in New York on Friday.
Members of the Security Council deplored this launch, which is in violation of Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874.
The resolutions, adopted by the Council after North Korea's nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, forbid the country from using any nuclear or missile-related technology.
Stressing that it is "premature" to say what sorts of measures the Council might take, the American ambassador said the reaction should be "credible."
South Korea, which isn't a non-permanent Council member right now, has said it wants strong condemnation from the international community over the launch.
The South Korean government is consulting with the U.S. about options, which could include a binding resolution or a non-binding presidential statement from the UN.
While South Korea, the U.S., Japan and many European nations are pushing for strong action, North Korea's long-time ally China hasn't been clear about its position on the rocket launch.
In fact, the foreign ministers of China and Russia called for calm and restraint from regional partners for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, then said the six-party talks would be the most effective and important channel to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.
And that is why U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has particularly emphasized moving together in a deliberate and unified way on the issue to her Chinese and Russian counterparts.
China and Russia are two veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council.
The U.S., meanwhile, has confirmed it has suspended a resumption of food aid to North Korea.
That deal, reached in February, was made in return for the North halting its missile and nuclear programs.


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