World condemns North Korea for launching ballistic missile

Today North Korea announced the successful launch of the artificial satellite 'Bright Star-4'. "On February 7th, at 09.00 (03.30 MSK), the artificial satellite 'Bright Star-4' for monitoring the Earth from space was successfully launched. This was the result of the development of the science and technology of North Korea," the official report of the National Space Administration announced.

At the same time, it is specified that the satellite has measuring and other equipment. The launch of the ballistic missile took place from 'Shohei' spaceport, located on the west coast of North Korea. After 10 minutes, the rocket flew over the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa. Later, the US stated that the North Korean rocket was launched towards the south, over the Yellow Sea.

The launching of the North Korean rocket provoked a harsh reaction from the international community. For example, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Pyongyang does not listen to appeals, showing defiant disregard for international legal norms. "We have to state that Pyongyang does not heed the appeals of the international community, once again demonstrating a defiant disregard for international law," the statement published today on the Ministry's website says.

The ministry also noted that such actions lead to a serious aggravation of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia as a whole, they play into the hands of those who have a stake in bloc policy and increasing military confrontation, cause serious damage to the security of the regional states, and first of all, North Korea itself."

"The course chosen by Pyongyang only causes determined protest. We strongly recommend the leadership of North Korea to think about whether the policy of contraposition of themselves to the international community corresponds to the interests of country," the statement says.

For his part, US Secretary of State John Kerry also described North Korea's launch of missile as a threat, including to the United States. At the same time, he urged the international community to bring North Korea to justice. "The US strongly condemns today's North Korean missile launch – it is a flagrant violation of UN Security Council resolutions related to the use of ballistic missile technology by North Korea. This is the second time in just over a month that North Korea has decided to carry out a major provocation, threatening not only the security of the Korean Peninsula, but also the security of the region and the United States," RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

Japan also intends to take measures against North Korea. According to the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan, in close cooperation with the international community, will not hesitate to take actions against North Korea. "Despite the demands to show restraint, North Korea forced the missile launch, and this is unacceptable. Following the nuclear test, today's missile launch is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions, and is a serious provocation from the point of view of the security of our country," the statement says.

China also responded to North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile. According to the analytical text of the Xinhua agency, which is also posted on the website of the Ministry of Defense of China, this event damages the international system of nonproliferation of nuclear weapons and leads to a further deterioration of the situation on the Korean peninsula.

It also became known today that due to the North Korean missile launch, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting at 19:00 (MSK). This was reported by the Permanent Mission of Venezuela to the United Nations. In addition, the Secretary General of the organization, Ban Ki-moon, issued a statement in which he urged Pyongyang to stop provocative actions and to respect its international commitments.