N.Korea`s `powerful country` goal shattered

The long-range rocket that North Korea launched to celebrate the centennial birthday of the country`s founder Kim Il Sung and the succession of new leader Kim Jong Un crashed into the Yellow Sea shortly after liftoff Friday. The North’s dream of becoming a powerful country this year has been shattered as well. The launch fiasco will hinder Kim Jong Un’s plan to consolidate his power through becoming supreme leader who controls the Stalinist country`s ruling Workers` Party, military and government by holding a meeting of the North`s parliament the same day as the party conference Wednesday.

The North spent 850 billion U.S. dollars on its latest rocket test, money that could have bought 250,000 tons of corn to feed 19 million people for a year. Given the country`s food shortage of 400,000 tons, the amount could have resolved its food shortage for six years. Though the launch pad can be used again, Pyongyang lost 450 billion dollars for development of the rocket and a satellite.

Inviting 70 foreign journalists to promote the missile launch as that of a satellite, the North has apparently suffered a huge setback. When Pyongyang conducted its first and second long-range missile tests, it insisted that both entered orbit. This time, however, the North admitted failure since it could not lie in front of foreign journalists who did not see the launch.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has lost face due to the botched launch. If he attempts a military provocation against South Korea or conducts his country`s third nuclear test, the North will sink deeper into the bog. The world will not turn a blind eye to Pyongyang`s provocations. The U.S. reaffirmed its stance to stop food aid and the U.N. Security Council has begun discussing sanctions against the North. Hopefully, the failure will help the North`s leader end the delusion of bringing about a powerful country and instead feed his people.

In South Korea, the spokeswoman of the minor opposition United Progressive Party said in a statement shortly after the North`s rocket launch, “Responses focusing on sanctions by the U.S. and the U.N. Security Council will not help ease tension on the Korean Peninsula.” This is the first official comment by the left-leaning party, which won a surprising 13 seats in the parliamentary elections Wednesday. Though the North has threatened peace on the peninsula by ignoring warnings from the world, the progressive party has issued a message urging the world not to provoke North Korea. This is why the party is called a pro-North Korea party.

The international community has made it clear that the rocket launch, whether for practical purposes or not, has violated U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874, which bans the North from launching projectiles using ballistic missile technology. The United Progressive Party must stop siding with the North.