North Korea defends latest actions claiming “the missile launch is an issue that is entirely within our sovereignty”; U.N. Security Council responds by calling an emergency meeting.

By Brendan Smith
brendansmith@transworldnews.com

Despite an agreement made September 13, 1999 pledging to freeze long range missile tests, and reaffirming this moratorium in September ‘02 and again in May ‘04, North Korea displayed their military prowess by test-firing several missiles into the Sea of Japan earlier Wednesday. Among these missiles was a Taepodong-2, a long range missile capable of reaching up to 9320 miles.

The exercise drew immediate reaction from the international community. The U.N. Security Council called for an emergency meeting to discuss the actions of Kim Jong-Il, the North Korean leader who has continued to isolate his communist nation from the rest of the world.

Japan, who was present at the summit talks with North Korea in ’02 and ’04 has warned of economic sanctions against the already impoverished country of 23 million, and banned a North Korean ferry from Japanese ports for six months.

Both Russia and China expressed “serious concern”, and called upon North Korea to use restraint and respect their commitments.

No damage was attributed to the testing, but the action has led several to believe North Korea will continue to test in efforts to strengthen their nuclear arsenal. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer expressed his concerns “We think they probably do intend to launch more missiles in the next day or two”

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations called on the members of the UN Security Council to send a “strong and unanimous signal” to North Korea. Although the launch was labeled a “provocative act” by Thomas Schieffer, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, it has not been considered a threat to national security. A diplomatic rather than military response has been preached by officials.