U.S., International Partners Condemn North Korea's Missile Launch

13 April 2012

“Members of the Security Council deplored this launch, which is in violation of Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 1874,"" Ambassador Rice said. (White House photo)

The United States and its international partners are condemning North Korea’s attempted missile launch as a threat to regional security and a violation of international law.

“While this action is not surprising given North Korea’s pattern of aggressive behavior, any missile activity by North Korea is of concern to the international community,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said in an April 12 statement.

Even though the launch failed, Carney said the United States “remains vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and is fully committed to the security of our allies in the region.”

North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command acknowledged the North Korean launch of a Taepo Dong-2 missile April 12. A joint news release said U.S. systems tracked the first missile of an intended multistage southerly launch over the Yellow Sea, with the missile eventually falling into the sea about 165 kilometers west of Seoul, South Korea.

“The remaining stages were assessed to have failed and no debris fell on land,” the statement said.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said the U.N. Security Council held consultations following the attempted launch to address the situation.

“Members of the Security Council deplored this launch, which is in violation of Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 1874,” Rice said April 13 from New York. She added that the council agreed to “continue consultations on an appropriate response, in accordance with its responsibilities, given the urgency of the matter.”

The Group of Eight (G8) advanced economies foreign ministers released a joint statement also condemning the launch, which it said “undermines regional peace and stability.”

The ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States called on North Korea to “abstain from further launches using ballistic missile technology or other actions which aggravate the situation on the Korean Peninsula.” They also said they are ready to consider, with others, taking measures to respond to all activities by North Korea that violate international rules and obligations.

Carney said the attempted launch only has further isolated North Korea.

“North Korea’s long-standing development of missiles and pursuit of nuclear weapons have not brought it security, and never will,” Carney said. “North Korea will only show strength and find security by abiding by international law, living up to its international obligations, and by working to feed its citizens, to educate its children, and to win the trust of its neighbors.”

The spokesman said President Obama is prepared to engage constructively with North Korea, so long as the country lives up to its commitments, adheres to its international obligations and deals peacefully with its neighbors.