China regrets over DPRK's satellite launch

A DPRK soldier stands in front of the Unha 3 rocket at the launch site in Tongchang-ri, on April 8, 2012. [Photo/IC]

Beijing voiced "regret" on Sunday at the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's disregard of widespread opposition of the international community by launching a satellite with ballistic missile technology.

"China has taken notice of the DPRK announcement of launch of the satellite, and has also taken into account the reactions of the relevant parties," Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters on Sunday.

Hua noted that the DPRK has a right to make peaceful use of the space, but this right is subject to restrictions of the Security Council resolutions.

The DPRK state media KCNA reported that scientists and technicians of the DPRK National Aerospace Development Administration "succeeded in putting the newly developed earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong-4 into its orbit according to the 2016 plan of the 5-year program for national aerospace development".

On Sunday, the United Nations Security Council strongly condemned the missile launched by the DPRK after emergency consultations, saying it is a serious violation of Security Council resolutions.

"This launch, as well as any other DPRK launch that uses ballistic missile technology, even if characterized as a satellite launch or space launch vehicle, contributes to the DPRK's development of nuclear weapon delivery systems," said the UN Permanent Representative of Venezuela, Rafael DaríoRamírezCarreño, delivering the Council's presidential statement.

He said members of the Security Council restated their intent to develop significant measures in a new Security Council resolution in response to the nuclear test conducted by the DPRK on Jan 6.

"…the members of the Security Council will adopt expeditiously a new Security Council resolution with such measures in response to these dangerous and serious violations," Ramírez said.

The Council also expressed its commitment to continue working toward a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation leading to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The Republic of Korea (ROK) has denounced the launch, calling for stronger sanctions against Pyongyang, and the United States also condemned the launch, saying it represents "another destabilizing and provocative action" and is "a flagrant violation" of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.

The launch, the first since December 2012, came one month after the DPRK tested what it claimed to be its first hydrogen bomb. Countries including the United States and the ROK have sought fresh sanctions since the nuclear test on Jan 6.

Hua said that China hopes that all the relevant parties would "react with a cool mind, act with discretion, refrain from any actions that might escalate the tension on the Korean Peninsula, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region".

"China has consistently believed that the method for achieving peace, stability, long-term order and tranquility of the peninsula can only be found through dialogue and reconciliation," Hua said.

All the parties should restart contacts and dialogue as soon as possible to avoid further escalation of the situation, the spokeswoman added.

According to the spokesperson, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin lodged representations to the DPRK's Ambassador to China Ji Jae Ryong on Sunday over the satellite launch and made clear China's stance.

XINHUA contributed to this story.