Nov 22 (NHK) - North Korea's space agency says the country has launched a rocket carrying a military reconnaissance satellite and put it successfully into orbit.
The National Aerospace Technology Administration made the announcement on Wednesday through the state-run Korean Central News Agency.
It disclosed that a new-type carrier rocket "Chollima-1" loaded with the satellite "Malligyong-1" blasted off from the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in the country's northwest at 10:42 p.m. on Tuesday.
The report said the country's leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch on the spot.
Japan's top government spokesperson has issued a statement strongly condemning North Korea's latest launch.
In the statement, Matsuno Hirokazu said Pyongyang has repeated its launches in defiance of repeated calls from the international community to abandon its nuclear and missile development programs. He points out that the North carried out the latest launch outside the announced time frame.
Matsuno said that the series of provocations poses a serious and imminent threat to Japan's security, and that is extremely regrettable and absolutely unacceptable.
He said the launch violates United Nations Security Council resolutions and poses a serious challenge to the entire international society. He added that Japan had lodged a stern protest with North Korea, condemned the country in the strongest terms, and conveyed the anger of Japanese people.
Matsuno demanded again that the North follow the UN resolutions immediately and completely. He urged Pyongyang to take concrete measures toward the comprehensive solution to concerns pending issues, including abduction, nuclear and missiles.
Matsuno also said that Japan will boost its efforts to gather and analyze information about North Korea's up-to-date moves, including its military cooperation with Russia.
He added that Japan will continue its measures against North Korea, including sanctions, and step up cooperation and collaboration with the United States, South Korea and other parties in the international community. He said Japan is mulling a quick and decisive response, including further discussions at the UN Security Council.
He said Japan, on the axis of its alliance with the US, will further promote the triparty cooperation with South Korea based on the agreement at the trilateral summit in August.
Matsuno said Japan will enhance its deterrence and response capabilities through fundamental improvement of its defense, including counterstrike capabilities based on its national security strategy.
Source: ANNnewsCH
