North Korea has moved to emphasize once again that its planned launch in April is that of a satellite, while heavily criticising South Korea’s attitude given that it has undertaken two failed rocket launches of its own in recent years.
“Our satellite launch is a problem related to the sovereign rights of independent states,” a piece carried by Chosun Central News Agency yesterday contended, adding, “It would be a misjudgment to think that we can be made to back out of this planned satellite launch.”
“Nobody at all has the right to meddle in our launch of Gwangmyungsung 3,” it went on, calling such interference “thoughtless”, “idle talk” and an “anti-Republic policy” aimed at pressuring North Korea.
The piece also referred to South Korea’s own failed ‘Naro’ rocket launches of August 2009 and June 2010, commenting, “It is shameful to say, but South Chosun, which has attempted and failed to launch a satellite twice full outside help, has neither the honour nor any justification for criticizing anyone else’s satellite launches.”
South Korea is reportedly planning to make its third attempt to launch a satellite using the Naro this year.
Meanwhile, on the 17th North Korea also announced plans to allow international scientific experts and journalists to visit both the launch site and command headquarters during April to “be shown the launch of Gwangmyungsung 3 live.”
