UN chief concerned about DPRK's satellite launch

UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was concerned about a plan announced by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to launch a satellite later this month, and called on Pyongyang to work towards building confidence with neighboring countries, a UN spokesman said here Monday.

UN spokesman Martin Nesirky made the statement at a daily news briefing here when asked about the UN response to the DPRK's Saturday announcement that it would launch an earth observation satellite between December 10-22 from the Sohae Space Center in DPRK's North Phyongan Province.

Nesirky recalled a statement by the secretary-general in April, at the time of the launch of a satellite, saying that the secretary-general then said that the launch, which had failed, was deplorable because it defied the firm and unanimous stance of the international community.

The DPRK attempted a satellite launch in April to mark the 100th birthday of late DPRK founder Kim Il Sung. But the rocket failed to send the satellite into orbit and crashed into sea.

Nesirky, citing Ban's statement, said that the secretary-general had also said that the launch was in direct violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1874 and a threat to regional stability.

Resolution 1874 was adopted by the UN Security Council in June 2009 following a nuclear test conducted in the DPRK on May 25, 2009. ?

In that statement, the secretary-general also urged the DPRK not to undertake any further provocative actions that would heighten tension in the region.

Nesirky said that "the secretary-general's views had not change on that matter."

He also noted that at the time the secretary-general had called on the DPRK authorities to work towards building confidence with neighboring countries and improving the life of its people.