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DPRK reveals plans for satellite launch, S.Korea warns harsh price

APD

APD

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SouthKoreaandJapanonWednesdayexpressedstrongcondemnationontheDemocraticPeople'sRepublicofKorea(DPRK)'snewsatellitelaunchplan,believingthatDPRKisplanningtotestalong-rangeballisticmissile.

TheDPRKhadinformedtheInternationalMaritimeOrganizationandtheInternationalTelecommunicationUnionofitsplantoputwhatitcalledaKwangmyongsongearth-observingsatelliteintoorbitbetweenFeb.8and25.

TheDPRKisbannedfromtest-firinganyrocketsbasedonaballisticmissiletechnologyunderUNSecurityCouncilresolutions.SouthKorea'smilitarystrengthenedthemonitoringoftheDPRK'smainrocketlaunchstationafteritsnucleardetonationinearlyJanuary.

TheDPRKhadcoveredtheroofofalaunchpadforrocketswithscreensatitsmainrocketbaseatTonchang-riinthenorthwestregion,wheretheUnha-3rocketwaslaunchedinDecember2012.Thecoveringpresumablyaimedtohidepossiblepreparationsforanotherrocketlaunch,sourcessaid.

Therocketbaseisbelievedtohaveequippeditselfwithautomatedfacilitiesofassemblyandtransportforrocketprojectilesthatcanbemovedinthetwo-lanerailsinsidethelaunchsite.

RailroadtracksbetweentherocketbaseandtheTonghchang-rirailwaystationhavebeenalsofence-screenedtocoverupthemovesofrocketprojectiles,manufacturedinafactoryinPyongyang.

TheSouthKoreanmilitaryhadrecentlydetectedthemovesofvehiclesandpersonnelattherocketbase,signsoftheDPRK'sanotherrocketlaunch.TheDPRKcompletedconstructionin2015toexpandthelaunchtower,withitsheightbeingraisedfrom50metersto67meters.

TheUnha-3rocketwasabout30meterslong,estimatedtohavearangeofabout10,000kmthatcanstrikepartsoftheU.S.mainland.TheSouthKoreanmilitaryestimatedthattheDPRKdevelopedarocketthatcanflyaround13,000km.

SouthKorea：Asignificantthreattopeaceandsecurity.

SouthKoreaonWednesdaywarnedaharshpriceagainstpossiblelaunchoflong-rangeballisticmissilebytheDemocraticPeople'sRepublicofKorea(DPRK)followingPyongyang'snotificationofitsplantolaunchasatelliteintoorbit.

"IfNorthKorea(DPRK)pushesaheadwithlong-rangemissilelaunch,itwillposeasignificantthreattopeaceandsecurityintheregionandtheworldaswellasontheKoreanPeninsula,"saidChoTae-Yong,thefirstdeputychiefofthepresidentialsecurityoffice.

ChosaidthatSeoulsternlywarnsaharshprice,whichwillcomefromtheinternationalsociety,againstPyongyang.

ChourgedtheDPRKtoimmediatelydropthemissilelaunchplanasitclearlyviolatesUNresolutions,sayingthatPyongyang'snotificationoflong-rangemissilelaunch,despitetheongoingdiscussiononUNsanctionsagainstitsfourthnucleartest,wasablatantchallengetotheinternationalsociety.

Japan:InclearviolationofUnitedNationsresolutions.

JapanesePrimeMinisterShinzoAbealsoonWednesdaystronglyurgedtheDPRKtorefrainfromitsplannedsatellitelaunch,sayingthatsuchalaunchwouldbeinclearviolationofUnitedNationsresolutions.

TheDPRKreportedlyinformedtheInternationalMaritimeOrganizationonTuesdayofitsplantolaunchasatellite,namedKwangmyongsong,sometimebetweenFeb.8and25.

ButbothJapanandSouthKoreabelievethattheDPRKcouldbetestingalong-rangeballisticmissile.

"Therealityisthatitisalaunchofaballisticmissile,"Abesaid,refutingtheDPRK'sclaims.