US Calls North Korea's Satellite Launch Plan a "Security Council Resolution Violation, Urges Restraint"

The U.S. administration urged restraint, stating that North Korea's plan to launch a satellite, which was notified to Japan, violates United Nations Security Council resolutions on North Korea.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State said on the 28th (local time) regarding North Korea's satellite launch plan, "Any launch by North Korea using ballistic missile technology violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions, including space launch vehicles (SLVs) used to launch satellites into space."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

They added, "Space launch vehicles include technology that is the same as or compatible with that used for ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). We urge North Korea to refrain from further illegal activities and call on the North Korean regime to engage in serious and sustained diplomacy."

The rockets used to launch satellites into space are technically virtually identical to ICBMs. Security Council resolutions prohibit any launches utilizing North Korea's ballistic missile technology regardless of their purpose.

According to Japanese media such as Kyodo News, the Japan Coast Guard received notification from North Korean authorities on the 29th that they plan to launch a satellite between 0:00 on the 31st of this month and 0:00 on the 11th of next month.