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UN fails to agree over North Korea's missile launch
Ed Harris06.04.09
The United Nations today failed to agree a response to North Korea's rocket launch, despite pressure from Washington and its allies.
Failure of the emergency UN Security Council meeting suggested the rogue state had succeeded in dividing the international community. Analysts said yesterday's launch of the rocket, which flew over Japan, was effectively a test of a ballistic missile designed to carry a warhead as far as Alaska.
Japan had called for the meeting, but after three hours the 15 members agreed only to discuss the matter further, diplomats said. The US, Japan and South Korea say the launch violated resolutions banning the firing of ballistic missiles by Pyongyang, imposed after a nuclear test and missile exercises in 2006.
Council diplomats said China, the nearest North Korea has to a major ally, and Russia were not convinced the launch of what North Korea said was a satellite, constituted a violation of UN rules. Three other countries supported this. "It's 10 against five," one diplomat said.
North Korea has tried to drive a wedge between regional powers that have engaged it in disarmament talks. Analysts say it uses its military threat to wring concessions. US observers expect it to try to exact further concessions for showing up at future talks on ending its nuclear programme and to water down previous obligations it signed.
The communist state said a satellite was launched into orbit and was circling the earth transmitting revolutionary songs. The rocket is designed to travel about 4,200 miles.
Reader views (2)
The UN is the most impotent organisation on the planet. You know exactly where the dividing lines will be on every issue. China, Russia and few states against the West.
It was a mistake to allow China into the WTO, they are simply biding their time while they build up there military might and then cause WWIII.
China, Russia and couple of other despot countries (France) bought by the corrupt Chinese, against the West. You read it here first.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Maybe they were trying to lauch a satellite. After all the same people told us Iraq had WMD and none have ever come to light!
- Michael, London
