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Japan Not To Attend North Korea Rocket Launch
by Sam Ross - April 4, 2012 - comments
Japan has formally announced that it will not be attending North Korea satellite launch claiming it is a cloaked missile test.
Japan has formally announced that it will not be attending North Korea ‘satellite launch’ claiming it is a cloaked missile test, which is expected to happen between April 12 and 16.
North Korea has invited space experts and foreign media to observe its satellite launch which international community believes is intended to develop intercontinental ballistic missile. However, North Korea has said it is launching satellite for peaceful purposes.
Not to launch rocket
Japanese government spokesperson Osamu Fujimura said that an invitation was send to Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency by North Korea. Osamu said that they asked North Korea not to hold the launch and because of that no Japanese official will be participating in the launch.
Osamu Fujimura said, “It is inappropriate that any Japanese officials participate in observing the launch. Japan has asked North Korea not to launch a rocket.”
Osamu Fujimura also said that the invitation was delivered by the officials of Korean high commission, Pyongyang’s de facto embassy in Tokyo, the first of its kind.
Actions against North Korea
The rocket launch has already brought North Korea into trouble, as United States has stopped its food aid, saying North Korea has disrespected the nuclear and missile treaty. Apart from this Japan is also set to impose fresh bans on the North Korea.
Osamu Fujimura said that Japan would extend its unilateral sanctions which include freezing trade and visa ban which are expiring next week. Japanese Prime Minister has given green signal to shooting down North Korea rocket if it threatens to enter their territory.
Japan has its missile defense system in place which it had ordered earlier in response to the planned launch of a North Korean long-range rocket. However, North Korea is in no mood to back away from its launching plans in spite of all the sanctions it had and have.
Peaceful purposes
Since the beginning North Korea has said that its satellite project is for peaceful purposes and it will help Democratic People's Republic to estimate crop yields, collect weather data, country's forest coverage and natural resources. And because of that reason they are endeavoring to conduct the launch in a transparent manner.