North Korea

USA and China warn North Korea ahead of ballistic missile test

A month after his alleged Test a hydrogen bomb provoked North Korea, the international community again. The country is planning to Test a ballistic missile. Washington and Beijing are demanding sharp measures.

Watch South Koreans archival footage of a previous North Korean missile tests

US President Barack Obama and his Chinese colleague Xi Jinping have about North Korea’s plans for a new ballistic missile test concerned shown. Both heads of state stressed in a conference call that the Test of a ballistic missile is a “provocative and destabilizing act” would be, said the US Executive office of the President. Obama and Xi agreed that a strong international response to the provocations was needed. This includes the effective Resolution of the UN security Council.

The leadership in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang is planning according to own data between the 8. and the 25. February the Start of a long-range rocket. North Korea explained that a satellite for a scientific Mission into space to be brought should. Other States consider the planned rocket launch but as a Test of a ballistic missile, which North Korea, according to a UN Resolution, is prohibited. China, which as Veto Power, the UN security Council member, is actually an ally of his impoverished and isolated neighbouring country.

Already at the beginning of the year had North Korea worldwide outrage caused, as it is the
Ignition of a hydrogen bomb announced. The fourth Atomwaffentest of the country since the year of 2006 was the United Nations security Council strongly condemned. Atomexperten and the U.S. government doubted, however, that it is indeed a hydrogen bomb had acted. The Explosion was not strong enough.

Flight routes in the Pacific modified

Because of the upcoming missile tests, the two largest Japanese airlines several routes to change. All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines announced that in the period concerned a sea area off the Philippines to avoid wanted, where the wreckage of the rocket down, should. Affected are five flight routes.

Satellite image of the rocket base Sohae in North Korea before the current escalation of the situation

The Japanese newspaper “Asahi Shimbun” reported that U.S. satellite imagery suggested that North Korea had begun, the rocket with fuel to fill up. So it was since Thursday increased movement to the launch pad and a fuel storage depot on the rocket base Sohae to watch.

ago/haz (rtr, afp)