What does North Korea's rocket launch mean?
North Korea鈥檚 launching of a long-range rocket Sunday was declared a success by the reclusive state, as countries around the world condemned the operation.
Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea's state news agency, reported that the missile launched into space 聽called Kwangmyongsong-4.聽North Korean media hailed the event, but other nations decried it as a breach of sanctions put in place by the UN days after South Korea聽.
Skywatchers say the satellite appears to be in a 聽about 500 kilometers above the Earth's surface, an orbit consistent with that of an Earth-imaging satellite.
After the Sunday launch went on as planned, other world leaders quickly spoke out against the North鈥檚 actions. The AP reported that South Korean President Park Geun-hye, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and US National Security Adviser Susan Rice all expressed concerns over North Korea鈥檚 missile programs and actions.聽Even China, the North鈥檚 lone ally, from its foreign ministry.
The United Nations Security Council, responsible for many sanctions already leveled against the North, also and expressed its 鈥渋ntent to develop significant measures鈥� to curb the North鈥檚 missile operations, according to Reuters.
鈥淭here will eventually be a sanctions resolution,鈥� a diplomat told Reuters. 鈥淐hina wants any steps to be measured but it wants the council to send a clear message to DPRK (North Korea) that it must comply with council resolutions.鈥�
The launch of the missile and possible release of Kwangmyongsong-4 in space comes one month after North Korea claimed to have tested a hydrogen bomb, an event that also drew international reproach while also garnering praise from the North鈥檚 media.
鈥淚 extend warm congratulations to our space scientists and technicians,鈥� said Choe Kwang Guk, head of North Korea鈥檚 National Meteorological Observatory, on Sunday, according to the KCNA. 鈥淭he successful satellite launch following the successful H-bomb test encourages us to greet the 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea with unprecedented achievements.
In addition to further UN sanctions, the United States could move its Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) into South Korea to directly focus on and counteract any future Northern missile launches.
鈥淣orth Korea continues to develop their nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, and it is the responsibility of our Alliance to against those threats,鈥� said US Forces Korea commander Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti in a statement. 鈥淭HAAD would add an important capability in a layered and effective missile defense.鈥�
For its part, North Korea said it plans on continuing to launch satellite-carrying rockets into space, despite Sunday's聽almost immediate international backlash.
鈥淭he state agency on space exploration, following the policy of the Workers' Party of Korea on giving priority to science and technology, ,鈥� North Korea鈥檚 Moscow embassy said in a statement, according to Russian news agency Interfax.
