North Korea rocket launch: Here’s how the world reacted

North Korea said the launch of its satellite Kwangmyongsong-4, named after late leader Kim Jong Il, was a “complete success” and that it was making a polar orbit of the earth every 94 minutes. The launch order was given by his son, leader Kim Jong Un, who is believed to be 33 years old.

North Korea’s last long-range rocket launch, in 2012, put what it called a communications satellite into orbit, but no signal has ever been detected from it.

Here are some of the reactions pouring in

United Nations

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting today in New York over North Korea’s launch of a long-range rocket, diplomats said.

The closed-door talks were requested by South Korea as well as council members Japan and the United States, which have both denounced the launch as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

Tokyo and Washington called the consultations over the launch of a “so-called ‘satellite’ by North Korea in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions,” in a letter to the Venezuela mission currently holding the council presidency.

The resolutions bar Pyongyang from any ballistic missile or nuclear activity.

Japan

Japanese government spokesman Yoshihide Suga says Japan has sent a strong protest to North Korea through their respective embassies in Beijing following North Korea’s rocket launch.

He also said that Japan is now considering its own sanctions against Pyongyang. He did not elaborate.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe earlier Sunday sharply criticized North Korea and said that the launch violated existing UN resolutions on Pyongyang’s use of ballistic missile technology.

Japan and the US have requested an emergency UN Security Council session to discuss the situation.

United States

US Secretary of State John Kerry has condemned North Korea’s rocket launch as “a flagrant violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions” related to Pyongyang’s use of ballistic missile technology.

Kerry says this is the second time in just over a month that North Korea has chosen to conduct “a major provocation, threatening not only the security of the Korean Peninsula, but that of the region and the United States as well.”

He reaffirms Washington’s ‘ironclad commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan.’

He says the US will continue to work with its partners and members of the U.N. Security Council on significant measures to hold North Korea to account.

China

China’s Foreign Ministry expressed regret and called on all sides to act cautiously and refrain from taking steps that might further raise tension on the Korean peninsula.

China is North Korea’s main ally, although it disapproves of its nuclear weapons programme.

“China expresses regret that North Korea, in spite of the pervasive opposition of the international community, insisted on using ballistic missile technology to carry out a launch,” ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement.

Taiwan

Taiwan said on Sunday its security had not been affected by North Korea’s launch of a rocket carrying what North Korea has said is a satellite.

The launch could advance North Korea’s long-range missile technology after its fourth nuclear test on January 6.

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