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DPRK closely watching ROK's rocket launch

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-10 14:53

SEOUL: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Monday it will closely watch the international response to Seoul's planned satellite launch after Pyongyang was brought before the UN Security Council for what it said was a similar move.

Republic of Korea (ROK) is aiming to launch a satellite into space from its own soil for the first time as early as next week.

Pyongyang said its April rocket launch also carried a satellite and was part of its peaceful space development program. However, the US and neighboring countries said it actually tested advanced missile technology that violated UN sanctions imposed on Pyongyang.

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The Security Council subsequently slapped new sanctions on three DPRK companies after the launch.

Pyongyang, in response, quit nuclear disarmament talks with the US, ROK, Japan, China and Russia, arguing the sanctions violated the talks' principle of respect for sovereignty and equality.

On Monday, Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry said it "will closely watch" how members of six-party nuclear talks would respond to Seoul's launch, because that "will once again clearly prove whether the principle of equality exists or has collapsed."

A ministry statement -- carried by the official Korean Central News Agency -- did not say what action DPRK would take if Seoul's launch was not referred to the Security Council.

Kim Bo-hyun, a spokesman at the Science Ministry, said ROK's satellite launch was for peaceful purposes only and its plan has been transparently conducted. He said it was "not appropriate" to compare Seoul's launch to Pyongyang's.

ROK initially planned to launch the satellite from its southern coast in late July but failed to do so because of a technical glitch.

ROK has not set an exact date for the rescheduled launch but it may take place as early as August 18, Kim said.

Under a 2007 six-party deal, DPRK pledged to abandon its nuclear program in exchange for aid and security guarantees. The disarmament process, however, has been stalled since last year over a disagreement with Washington over how to verify Pyongyang's past atomic activities.