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S. Korea, neighboring countries strongly warn N. Korea against missile launch

S. Korea, neighboring countries strongly warn N. Korea against missile launch

Posted February. 04, 2016 07:15,   

Updated February. 04, 2016 07:21

한국어

After North Korea announced a plan to launch a long-range missile between February 8 and 25, South Korea and neighboring countries have issued strong warnings against the plan and started drawing countermeasures.

According to the plan of which the North informed the International Maritime Organization, the first-phase propellant will likely fall on the waters off Gunsan, South Korea, the second-phase one on the waters east of the Philippines and the third-phase satellite protective cover east of South Korea's Jeju Island. The South Korean military plans to deploy two Aegis-class naval vessels to the East Sea to track down the North Korean missile's flight trajectory and has stepped up the surveillance postures of its long-range radars and airborne early warning and control systems. The United States is bracing for the missile launch with its surveillance satellites including the Space-Based Infrared System, while Japan has deployed the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Aegis destroyers to international waters and four surveillance satellites. The three allies also plan to share information on the long-range missile's flight orbit and impact point under an intelligence sharing pact signed in 2014.

South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae held a National Security Council (NSC) meeting to discuss countermeasures. Cho Tae-yong, the NSC deputy chief, told a news briefing that North Korea would "pay a harsh price" if it goes ahead with the rocket launch. He urged the North to withdraw its plan for a launch, noting that the notification was a "challenge" to the international community at a time of the U.N. Security Council's ongoing discussions to punish North Korea for its fourth nuclear test last month.

China has also issued a warning. Its foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang called on the North to take prudent action, noting that despite its right to peaceful use of space, Pyongyang is under U.N. Security Council's sanctions. Japan announced that it had placed it’s the Self Defense Forces on alert to shoot down any North Korean rocket if it enters Japan's territorial land, air space or waters.



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