DPRK satellite launch criticized as dangerous

TOKYO - Commander of the US Forces Japan ( USFJ) Salvatore Angelella said Thursday that the satellite launch of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was a " dangerous situation".

A soldier stands guard in front of a rocket sitting on a launch pad at the West Sea Satellite Launch Site, during a guided media tour by Democratic People's Republic of Korea's authorities in the northwest of Pyongyang in this April 8, 2012 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

The launch "is against UN Security Council's resolutions," Angelella told a press conference in Japan National Press Club.

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"We are monitoring the situation closely, and we are working very closely with Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF). It is a very dangerous situation. We do not support those actions by the DPRK," said Angelella.

The general also said the United States and Japan are closely cooperating in defense so as to ensure the safety of Japanese population and the country's territory, adding the USFJ has the capability to do that.

The United States and Japan are discussing locations to place another missile defense radar in Japan to strengthen such capability.

"There are trilateral defense talks ongoing in Washington DC right now between the United States, Japan and Republic of Korea, and it is strengthening the cooperation between our three nations in ballistic missile defense," Angelella added.

Angelella also said the priorities for the USFJ are to help Japan relieve the aftermath of tsunami hit Japan last year and to increase bilateral cooperation with the SDF.  

The DPRK has announced that it plans to launch a three-stage rocket between Dec 10 and 22 to put a satellite into orbit.  

The launch is seen as a test of a long-range ballistic missile in disguise, with The United States and its allies calling the launch plan a "grave provocation".  

This would be the DPRK's second launch under leader Kim Jong-un, who took power following his father Kim Jong-Il's death nearly a year ago. The country's previous attempt in April ended in failure.