The South Korean government has threatened to shoot down a North Korean rocket due for launch in April. The rocket mission has sparked international controversy, the US labeling it a test for a long-range missile that could carry nuclear warheads.
“We are studying measures such as tracking and shooting down [parts] of a North Korean missile in case it strays out of its normal trajectory” and violates South Korean airspace, said Yoon Won-shik, a spokesman at the South’s Defense Ministry.
He described the launch as a “reckless and provocative act that undermines peace on the Korean peninsula.”
Japan has also rattled the saber, saying it will shoot down the missiles with AEGIS warships if the rocket threatens their country.
The international community has condemned the launch amid calls from the US and South Korea to abort the mission immediately.
Washington suspects that North Korea’s rocket launches are a front for the testing of nuclear warhead delivery methods.
According to a UN resolution, ballistic missile launches by North Korea for any purpose are outlawed.
Both the US and South Korean military are currently monitoring the situation for developments. Recent reports say that the rocket has been moved to the village of Tongchang-ri and is prepping for launch.
President Barack Obama said that if the launch went ahead it would seriously jeopardize an agreement reached with North Korea last month to deliver US food aid to the country.
The issue overshadowed an international nuclear summit being held in Seoul on Monday, where 60 world leaders had gathered together to discuss nuclear disarmament and prevent atomic weapons from terrorist groups.
North Korea has said the launch is part of a mission to deliver an observation satellite into orbit and has no military purpose. South Korea believes this a long-standing pretext for the North Korean government to conduct banned missile tests.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in South Korea on Saturday to meet with President Lee Myung-bak. Lee’s office released a statement following the meeting saying “North Korea’s announcement of a long-range rocket launch plan represents a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and a grave provocation against the international community.”
Dr John Swenson-Wright from the department of Asian and Mid-East studies at Cambridge University told RT that North Korea’s defiance would have serious consequences.
“The delicately-negotiated deal to provide nutritional assistance to North Korea in return for concessions on the nuclear regime will almost certainly be taken off the table,” he stressed.
In the case of the missile launch Dr. Swenson said it would represent a “grave provocation and violation of the North’s past international agreements.”
Furthermore, he stated that the launch was indicative of a new government needing to “assert its authority” and show “it can’t be pushed around by the international community.”
“The North needs the satellite, or missile launch as a means of demonstrating its assurance and its commitment to supporting the interests of its own people,” he said.