North Korea announced the successful launch of its first spy satellite into orbit and promised to launch several more “in a short period of time.”
The official KCNA news agency said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watched the launch from the Dongchang-ri test site on the country’s western coast.
“The Chollima-1 launch vehicle flew normally along the planned flight path and accurately placed the Manrigyong-1 satellite into orbit,” the agency said.
U.S. and South Korean officials have not said publicly whether the satellite reached orbit, but they condemned the launch as a provocation that violates U.N. Security Council resolutions.
South Korea also announced it would partially suspend a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement aimed at reducing border tensions.
In Washington, the White House said the United States strongly condemns North Korea for launching ballistic missile technology.
White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson called the launch a “bold violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions” that “increases tensions and risks destabilizing the region and beyond.” .
“This space launch involves technologies that are directly related to the DPRK’s ICBM program,” he added.
Watson said President Joe Biden and his national security team are assessing the situation in close coordination with allies and partners.
“We call on all countries to condemn this launch and ask North Korea to come to the table for serious negotiations,” Watson said. “The door to diplomacy is not closed, but Pyongyang must immediately stop its provocative actions and opt for engagement.” “The United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the United States territory and the protection of our allies: the Republic of Korea and Japan.”
Meanwhile, the Pentagon said Under Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Eli Ratner held separate phone calls with South Korea’s Under Secretary for National Defense Policy Ho Tae-keun and the Director General of Japan’s Defense Policy, Kano Koji.
“Officials discussed and strongly condemned the Nov. 21 space launch attempt using ballistic missile technology in violation of numerous U.N. Security Council resolutions,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
“Undersecretary Ratner reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering commitment to extended deterrence to protect the Republic of Korea and Japan,” the statement continued.
