LINE

Text:AAAPrint
Politics

UN Security Council kicks off emergency meeting on DPRK's satellite launch

1
2016-02-08 10:47Xinhua Editor: Gu Liping

The UN Security Council began an emergency meeting on Sunday in response to the satellite launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which violates relevant Security Council resolutions.

The meeting, held behind closed doors, started here at around 11:00 a.m. (1600 GMT) at the request of the United States, the Republic of Korea and Japan.

The DPRK launched a long-range rocket Sunday morning. Regardless of its true nature, the launch marks a negative development of the situation on the Korean Peninsula as it has sparked extensive world anxiety and concern, observers here said.

Tensions on the peninsula have escalated since the DPRK claimed it conducted a hydrogen bomb test on Jan. 6. The test, the DPRK claimed as its first hydrogen bomb, was the fourth of nuclear detonations following tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013 respectively.

The council resolutions prohibit the DPRK from test-firing any rocket based on ballistic missile technology or conducting any nuclear activity.

The firing of the rocket came as the 15-nation UN body is discussing a new council draft resolution in the wake of Pyongyang's Jan. 6 nuclear test.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a statement issued here Saturday night, called the latest rocket launch "deeply deplorable" and the move is in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions "despite the united plea of the international community against such an act."

China expressed regrets after the DPRK launched the earth-observation satellite Sunday morning, calling for calmness to avoid further escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

"The DPRK should have been entitled to peaceful use of outer space, but this right is currently restricted by the United Nations Security Council resolutions," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, in response to a question on the DPRK's announcement on the launch of satellite Kwangmyongsong-4.

China was regretful that the DPRK insisted on launching the satellite, based on the ballistic missile technology, despite universal opposition of the international community, the spokesperson said.

  

Related news

MorePhoto

Most popular in 24h

MoreTop news

MoreVideo

News
Politics
Business
Society
Culture
Military
Sci-tech
Entertainment
Sports
Odd
Features
Biz
Economy
Travel
Travel News
Travel Types
Events
Food
Hotel
Bar & Club
Architecture
Gallery
Photo
CNS Photo
Video
Video
Learning Chinese
Learn About China
Social Chinese
Business Chinese
Buzz Words
Bilingual
Resources
ECNS Wire
Special Coverage
Infographics
Voices
LINE
Back to top Links | About Us | Jobs | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
Copyright ©1999-2018 Chinanews.com. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.