South Korea warns North Korea will pay the price if it launches satellite

(Baonghean.vn) - On February 3, after North Korea announced its preparations to launch a satellite into orbit, South Korea immediately warned that Pyongyang would pay a heavy price if it continued to carry out this action.

North Korea launched the Unha-2 rocket carrying the 'Kwangmyongsong-2' satellite into orbit in 2009. Photo: KCNA

In a statement, South Korea urged North Korea to abandon its satellite launch plan, saying it was a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Seoul's warning came after North Korea notified the International Maritime Organization (IMO) late on February 2 that it would launch a satellite into orbit between February 8 and 25.

"North Korea's announcement of a satellite launch plan is a direct challenge to the international community...We warn that North Korea will pay a heavy price if it goes ahead with the plan," South Korea's statement said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he would work with the United States and other countries to “strongly demand” that North Korea cancel its planned missile launch. US State Department spokesman John Kirby also said the United Nations needed to “send a quicker and stronger message to North Korea.”

According to the announcement from the North Korean side, the satellite launch will be conducted in the morning during the announcement time. The expected locations are off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula and east of the Philippines.

Last month, North Korea successfully tested an H-bomb, but this has raised doubts about its authenticity among the US and nuclear experts.

Phuong Thao

(According to Reuters)