Germany, UK hit rocket blast, urge `strong’ UN response

NEW YORK – German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Thursday condemned North Korea’s launch of a long-range rocket, calling for a “strong” response from the UN Security Council.

“I condemn the attempt for a rocket launch by North Korea. This is a violation of international obligations and will increase tensions on the Korean peninsula,” Westerwelle told AFP during a visit to New York.

“The Security Council of the United Nations must give a strong answer to this violation of international law,” said Westerwelle, who was in New York to launch Germany’s campaign to get a seat on the UN Human Rights Council.

Westerwelle had been in Washington for two days of talks among the Group of Eight foreign ministers. That grouping issued a statement shortly before the launch, demanding that Pyongyang scrap its plans for the launch.

In London, British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Friday expressed “deep concern” over North Korea’s long-range rocket launch and called for a robust response from the international community.

“I am deeply concerned about the DPRK’s satellite launch today,” Hague said in a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

“Such a launch uses ballistic missile technology and, as such, is a clear violation of UNSCR 1874.”

North Korea launched the long-range rocket on Friday, but it appears to have disintegrated soon after blastoff and fallen into the ocean, South Korean and Japanese authorities said.

South Korea’s defense ministry said the rocket was launched at 07:39 a.m. (6:39 a.m. Philippine time).

Britain will summon North Korea’s ambassador in Britain later Friday and warn him “to expect a strong response from the international community if it continues to develop its missile and nuclear capabilities,” Hague said.

The United Nations Security Council is set to hold an emergency session on Friday to discuss what it would do in response to North Korea’s rocket launch.