South Korea and the U.S. warn North Korea about sanctions.

LeaderNorth Korean Kim Jong-un observes a missile test. (Source: AFP/VNA)

According to Yonhap news agency, South Korea's chief negotiator for the six-party nuclear talks, Hwang Joon Kook, warned on September 17 that the United Nations Security Council would increase sanctions if North Korea launched a long-range missile.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to Washington, Hwang Joon Kook stated that North Korea would further isolate itself if it proceeded with its missile launch plan.

According to him, not only the countries participating in the six-party talks, including South Korea and the United States, but also the United Nations Security Council consider North Korea's move to be a "serious act threatening peace."

The statement was made by Hwang Joon Kook a few days after North Korean media reported that the country planned to launch a series of satellites into space and that preparations for the plan were in their final stages.

In an interview with the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the director of North Korea's National Aerospace Development Agency announced that the agency is in the final stages of developing a new Earth observation satellite for weather forecasting.

According to this official, North Korea has made significant progress in developing launch platforms for satellites and conducting research on geostationary satellites.

This move has fueled speculation that Pyongyang will launch a long-range missile to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of North Korea this coming October.

According to United Nations Security Council resolutions, North Korea is prohibited from conducting tests using ballistic missile technology. However, Pyongyang consistently maintains that its missile launches are part of a legitimate space program aimed at putting satellites into orbit.

In a related development, on September 16, US Secretary of State John Kerry warned that the US would increase sanctions against North Korea if Pyongyang continued actions that Washington considered "provocative," such as starting up its nuclear reactor, or failing to comply with international commitments.

Speaking to reporters, Secretary of State Kerry affirmed that the US goal remains a peaceful solution leading to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and that Washington's position is clear: it does not accept North Korea as a nuclear power.

Secretary Kerry's comments came after the White House and the State Department both urged North Korea to avoid actions that would escalate tensions in the region.

Earlier, on September 15, Pyongyang announced the restart of the Nyongbyon nuclear reactor, which is used to produce weapons-grade plutonium.

KCNA reported that the country's atomic energy scientists are continuously upgrading its nuclear weapons both in quality and quantity, while emphasizing that its nuclear program is purely for self-defense stemming from the hostile policies of the United States toward Pyongyang.

According to VN+