North Korea went ahead with the launch of their Taepodong-2 rocket this past Sunday, sparking debate within the United Nations Security Council.
“Rules must be binding, violations must be punished. Words must mean something,” stated U.S. President Barack Obama to an audience in Prague shortly after the launch.
South Korea, Japan, and the U.S., in particular, found the launching of the missile as a provocative act that further illustrated North Korea as real threat to international peace.
“In view of this gravity and urgency, the Security Council should come up with a clear and strong message,” said Japanese Ambassador Yukio Takasu.
The consensus from international experts using tracking instruments is that the “satellite” traveled nearly 2,000 miles before crashing down somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.
Despite these reports, state-run media in North Korea has stated that the satellite was successfully launched into the Earth’s orbit and is currently broadcasting patriotic songs.
“It is a striking demonstration that our scientists and technicians developed both the multistage carrier rocket and the satellite 100 percent with their own wisdom and technology and accurately put the satellite into orbit at one go,” North Korea’s Kim Jong Il was quoted as saying.