North Korea Defends Failed Satellite Launch in UN Speech
In a defiant speech to the UN Security Council, North Korea’s ambassador Kim Song insisted that the country’s efforts to launch a spy satellite into space are transparent and within its legitimate right as a sovereign state. The rare address on Friday aimed to deny allegations that North Korea was seeking to acquire intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technology through its satellite launch.
Kim Song stated that North Korea has never recognized UNSC resolutions that infringe on the rights of a sovereign state. This comes after Pyongyang’s second attempt to launch a spy satellite into orbit failed on Thursday due to a malfunction in the rocket’s third stage. The first attempt in May also ended in failure when the rocket crashed into the sea shortly after liftoff.
The failed rocket broke into multiple parts, falling into the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. The incident prompted neighboring Japan to issue an emergency evacuation call for residents of the southern Okinawa region. The US National Security Council condemned the launch as a brazen violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, claiming that it involved technologies directly related to North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile program.
However, South Korea’s military dismissed the latest satellite’s design as too rudimentary to function properly as a spying device, even if it had been launched successfully. Despite the failures, North Korea announced that it will attempt another launch in October, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Prior to Kim Song’s UN address, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield urged members to return to an era when collective voices were used to curb nuclear proliferation. She called for unequivocal denouncement of North Korea’s unlawful behavior and emphasized the need for the country to fully and faithfully implement all relevant Security Council resolutions. Thomas-Greenfield also highlighted the importance of addressing North Korea’s global revenue-generating activities, which fund its unlawful weapons program.
The tensions surrounding North Korea’s satellite launch attempts continue to escalate, with the international community closely monitoring the country’s actions and responses.
What are the allegations claiming North Korea’s intentions behind the satellite launch, and how did North Korea refute them in the UN speech
North Korea Boldly Defends Failed Satellite Launch in UN Speech
In a fiery speech to the UN Security Council, North Korea’s ambassador Kim Song vehemently defended the country’s recent failed satellite launch. With unwavering determination, he asserted that the launch was transparent and well within the rights of a sovereign state. The rare address aimed to refute allegations claiming that North Korea was using the satellite launch to acquire intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technology.
Kim Song boldly declared that North Korea has never recognized UNSC resolutions that infringe on the rights of a sovereign state. This statement comes in the aftermath of the country’s second unsuccessful attempt to launch a spy satellite. The failure was attributed to a malfunction in the rocket’s third stage. The first attempt, back in May, also ended in disappointment when the rocket crashed into the sea shortly after liftoff.
The faulty rocket broke into multiple fragments, scattering into the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. The incident led Japan to issue an emergency evacuation call for residents of the southern Okinawa region. The US National Security Council condemned the launch as a direct violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, alleging that it involved technologies related to North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile program.
However, South Korea’s military dismissed the latest satellite’s design as inadequate for proper spying capabilities, even if it had successfully reached orbit. Despite these setbacks, North Korea announced its plans for another launch in October, as reported by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
In anticipation of Kim Song’s UN speech, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield appealed to fellow members to collectively address nuclear proliferation. She called for a resolute denouncement of North Korea’s unlawful behavior and emphasized the urgent need for the country to fully comply with relevant Security Council resolutions. Thomas-Greenfield also highlighted the importance of addressing North Korea’s global revenue-generating activities, which directly fund its illicit weapons program.
With tensions surrounding North Korea’s satellite launch attempts escalating, the international community remains vigilant and closely monitors the country’s actions and responses.
“North Korea’s constant disregard for international norms and agreements is deeply concerning. It’s crucial for the international community to hold them accountable for their actions.”