Japan and South Korea condemn North's rocket launch
- 12 years ago
PLEASE NOTE, THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
In the Japanese resort island of Ishigaki, sighs of relief met the news that North Korea's rocket launch had failed.
Missile launchers were positioned in case the rocket exploded over Japanese territories. But it reached only around 100 km, and crashed into the sea about a minute after take-off.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 32-YEAR-OLD TOURIST, YUKI SUEMATSU, CARRYING HER BABY AND SAYING:
"I came here on holiday and I was still a bit worried today. But in the end nothing happened so I feel relieved."
Japan's parliament voted unanimously for a resolution condemning North Korea for its action.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER YOSHIHIKO NODA SAYING:
"Today's launch is not something our nation can accept. We strongly protest North Korea and hereby express our anger. According to the resolution that was just passed, the Japanese government will urge North Korea to abide by all United Nations resolutions and strongly demand that North Korea show us a detailed progress plan and act toward solving the nuclear, missile and abduction issues."
South Korean president Lee Myung Bak held an emergency meeting following the rocket launch, and Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan said the North must take responsibility.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER KIM SUNG-HWAN SAYING:
"Our government is strongly condemning North Korea's new leadership for enforcing the rocket launch despite the international society's united request to withdraw the launch. The North must take due responsibility for this."
At the border between the two Koreas, a South Korean tourist said the rocket launch was preposterous to begin with.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 73-YEAR-OLD SOUTH KOREAN TOURIST KIM WAN-JAE SAYING:
"What's the use of showing off with the launch? They should have a good relationship with neighbours. It's nonsense to launch a rocket."
Condemnations by the U.S., South Korea and Japan could heighten pressure for more trade sanctions against Pyongyang, but analysts say a tough push for such measures could also lead to a show of defiance from unpredictable North Korea.
Michaela Cabrera, Reuters
In the Japanese resort island of Ishigaki, sighs of relief met the news that North Korea's rocket launch had failed.
Missile launchers were positioned in case the rocket exploded over Japanese territories. But it reached only around 100 km, and crashed into the sea about a minute after take-off.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 32-YEAR-OLD TOURIST, YUKI SUEMATSU, CARRYING HER BABY AND SAYING:
"I came here on holiday and I was still a bit worried today. But in the end nothing happened so I feel relieved."
Japan's parliament voted unanimously for a resolution condemning North Korea for its action.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER YOSHIHIKO NODA SAYING:
"Today's launch is not something our nation can accept. We strongly protest North Korea and hereby express our anger. According to the resolution that was just passed, the Japanese government will urge North Korea to abide by all United Nations resolutions and strongly demand that North Korea show us a detailed progress plan and act toward solving the nuclear, missile and abduction issues."
South Korean president Lee Myung Bak held an emergency meeting following the rocket launch, and Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan said the North must take responsibility.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER KIM SUNG-HWAN SAYING:
"Our government is strongly condemning North Korea's new leadership for enforcing the rocket launch despite the international society's united request to withdraw the launch. The North must take due responsibility for this."
At the border between the two Koreas, a South Korean tourist said the rocket launch was preposterous to begin with.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 73-YEAR-OLD SOUTH KOREAN TOURIST KIM WAN-JAE SAYING:
"What's the use of showing off with the launch? They should have a good relationship with neighbours. It's nonsense to launch a rocket."
Condemnations by the U.S., South Korea and Japan could heighten pressure for more trade sanctions against Pyongyang, but analysts say a tough push for such measures could also lead to a show of defiance from unpredictable North Korea.
Michaela Cabrera, Reuters