Strong Reactions Among the International Community After North Korea’s Successful Rocket Launch
A screen shows the Unha-3 (Milky Way 3) rocket being launched from a launch pad at the West Sea Satellite Launch Site, at North Korea’s satellite control centre in Cholsan county, North Pyongan province in this picture released by the official KCNA news agency in Pyongyang December 12, 2012. KCNA said the picture was taken December 12, 2012. REUTERS/KCNA (NORTH KOREA – Tags: POLITICS MILITARY) THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. NOT FOR USE BY REUTERS THIRD PARTY DISTRIBUTORS
The White House is calling North Korean’s rocket launch a “highly provocative act.”
And apparently, it’s a successful act as well.
North Korea claimed it was launching a weather satellite.
And the Pentagon has confirmed that an object was indeed launched into orbit.
But the US and the international community are condemning the launch as a thinly-disguised ballistic missile test.
That didn’t stop the North Korean regime from celebrating.
State-run TV there was showing images of people dancing in the streets of Pyongyang.
Former US Ambassador Christopher Hill is a veteran of negotiations with North Korea over its nuclear program.
He’s now dean of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver.
Ambassador Hill said though we often hear reports about North Korea going against the will of the international community, this latest launch is pretty significant.