Seoul expresses its regret over Pyongyang’s threat to stop prior notification of satellite launches

(Yonhap)

South Korea on Monday expressed regret over North Korea’s threat to forgo advance notice to the International Maritime Safety Agency (IMSA) on a future military spy satellite launch.
In the wake of a failed attempt to launch what the North claims was a satellite-carrying missile last week, Pyongyang condemned the International Maritime Organization on Sunday for adopting a resolution condemning its launch, and hinted that it might not notify the organization of future launches in advance.
“North Korea’s stance, which deviates more and more from international norms and common sense, is very disappointing,” Ko Byung-sam, a spokesman for the Unification Ministry in Seoul, told a regular press briefing, stressing that such a stance only serves to isolate the regime. Rebellious from the international community, he called on North Korea to choose the “correct” path for its future.
Prior to the launch last week, North Korea notified the International Maritime Organization and Japan of its plan to launch a satellite between May 31 and June 11.
In an article published by state media on Sunday, North Korea claimed the IMO had been turned into a “tool moving under the control of the White House,” and defended the launch as an exercise of its sovereign right to self-defence.
Pyongyang has vowed to put the satellite into orbit “correctly” soon, despite global condemnation of the move as a violation of Security Council resolutions banning any launches using ballistic missile technology.

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