The White House condemned North Korea's military reconnaissance satellite launch once again on the 31st (local time) and expressed its intention to hold Chairman Kim Jong-un accountable.
John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House National Security Council (NSC), said at a briefing that "We will continue to work with our allies and partners to hold Kim Jong-un and his regime accountable."
Regarding the cause of North Korea's launch failure, he said, "We do not know," and pointed out, "Exactly why it failed should not be the main focus." He added, "What is important and concerning is that every time (North Korea) launches, whether it fails or succeeds, Kim Jong-un and his scientists and engineers learn, improve, and adapt."
He expressed concern that "They continue to develop their military capabilities, which pose a threat not only to the Korean Peninsula but also to the region." He also added, "This is why we are doing everything we can to ensure the region has the appropriate military capabilities to respond to such threats."
Earlier, North Korea announced that it launched a space launch vehicle southward from the Dongchang-ri area in Pyonganbuk-do around 6:27 a.m. Korean time on the 31st, but the launch vehicle lost propulsion and fell into the West Sea. In response, the NSC immediately issued a statement strongly condemning "North Korea's launch using ballistic missile technology," calling it "a blatant violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and a security-threatening act that escalates tensions in the region and beyond."
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