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North Korean rocket launch a 'provocative act': Obama
Last Updated: Saturday, April 4, 2009 | 9:13 AM ET

Defying the wishes of a number of nations, North Korea launched a controversial long-range rocket over Japan, a move U.S. President Barack Obama called a "provocative act" that will further isolate the nation.

The U.S. State Department, Japanese and South Korean government officials confirmed the launch. The UN Security Council approved an emergency session for Sunday afternoon in New York following a request from Japan that came immediately after the launch.

Liftoff took place Sunday morning from the coastal Musudan-ri launch pad in northeastern North Korea, the South Korean and U.S. governments said.

Western countries fear that the launch is a cover for a ballistic missile test for the North, which has nuclear weapons, and violates a 2006 resolution barring the regime from ballistic missile activity.

But North Korea has claimed the launch was to send an experimental communications satellite into orbit as part of a peaceful bid to develop its space program.

"With this provocative act, North Korea has ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations," Obama said in a statement from Prague.

"I urge North Korea to abide fully by the resolutions of the UN Security Council," Obama said.

Obama cautioned that North Korea will not find acceptance in the international community "unless it abandons its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction."

The president said the rocket was a Taepo-dong 2 missile, a three-stage rocket with potential range of more than 6,600 kilometres.

Japanese broadcaster NHK cited the Japanese government as saying the rocket flew over Japan. Japan said the rocket's second booster stage had splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, Reuters reported.

But there were no reports of any debris falling on Japan.

South Korea's presidential Blue House said the launch poses a "serious threat" to stability on the Korean peninsula and that it would respond to the provocation "sternly and resolutely."

North Korea earlier advised international authorities the launch would take place between Saturday and Wednesday, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time.

Saturday was to be the start of a five-day window during which North Korea said it would send a communications satellite into space from a launch pad in Musudan-ri.

GamePlayer wrote:Korea launches rocket

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SandRider wrote:anybody else think Kim Il-Jong is dead and has been dead for quite awhile ?


come to think of it, anybody seen MadTV's Bobby Lee lately ?
maybe he got a new job as Kim's parade stand-in ....

cmsahe wrote:

SandRider wrote:anybody else think Kim Il-Jong is dead and has been dead for quite awhile ?


come to think of it, anybody seen MadTV's Bobby Lee lately ?
maybe he got a new job as Kim's parade stand-in ....

Moon over Parador!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pUdy4hxyzQ

cmsahe wrote:

GamePlayer wrote:Korea launches rocket

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This reminds me of Stargate SG1, in the plot is revealed that the superpowers of the Universe signed a treaty forbidding Earth to develop advanced technology (interstellar travel, weapons etc)! Why is North Korea going to be forbidden to have nuclear missiles? Why don't they forbid UK, France, Israel, etc. to own nuclear bombs? They want to be the only tough guys of the block!

moreh_yeladim wrote:You know what makes North Korea not belong in the same group as UK, France, Israel, the USA, and China? North Korea is batshit insane.

orald wrote:

moreh_yeladim wrote:You know what makes North Korea not belong in the same group as UK, France, Israel, the USA, and China? North Korea is batshit insane.

China's sane, eh?

Redstar wrote:

orald wrote:

moreh_yeladim wrote:You know what makes North Korea not belong in the same group as UK, France, Israel, the USA, and China? North Korea is batshit insane.

China's sane, eh?

China is smart. You know they execute more people a year than all other countries combined? I'd like to see another modern country pull that off so obviously.

A Thing of Eternity wrote:Looks like it's almost time for another "liberation"...

I agree, I don't like anyone having nukes, but there are some places I really don't want to have nukes. That said, it seems like North Korea has been just trying to get the west to attack for the last while, kinda smells like a trap.

Drunken Idaho wrote:

A Thing of Eternity wrote:Looks like it's almost time for another "liberation"...

I agree, I don't like anyone having nukes, but there are some places I really don't want to have nukes. That said, it seems like North Korea has been just trying to get the west to attack for the last while, kinda smells like a trap.

A valid assessment of North Korea's recent behaviour... I think I agree with you. Shit-disturbers are what they are!

Freakzilla wrote:I say we let the Canadians take this one.

Freakzilla wrote:RELEASE THE KRAKEN!

Rakis wrote:

Freakzilla wrote:RELEASE THE KRAKEN!

Can't wait for the new movie...

Redstar wrote:

Rakis wrote:

Freakzilla wrote:RELEASE THE KRAKEN!

Can't wait for the new movie...

Wait... This is in the Berg Dune movie?!

GamePlayer wrote:He's talking about a proposed remake of Clash of the Titans.