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North Korea Satellite Launch

March 16, 2012 by · Comments Off on North Korea Satellite Launch 

North Korea Satellite Launch, North Korea plans to launch an “earth observation” satellite using a carrier rocket in April, the country’s official news agency said Friday, a move that would potentially violate U.N. Security Council demands.

The announcement also could threaten a deal struck last month with the United States in which Pyongyang agreed to halt nuclear tests, long-range missile launches and enrichment activities in exchange for food aid.

Several nations who sit on the U.N. Security Council quickly criticized the North Korean announcement.

The United States released a statement describing the announcement as “highly provocative,” saying North Korea is violating its international obligations.

“This calls into question whether, when the DPRK entered into that agreement with us, they did so in good faith,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said, referring to the country’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

At the time of the agreement, under which North Korea would receive 240,000 metric tons of food aid, the United States told Pyongyang that such a launch would be contrary to the accord, she said.

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