North Korea has moved what they have called a satellite launch vehicle and Japan, South Korea, and the United States believe is a long-range missile into position for launching as early as next week. Japan has announced its intention of shooting the missile down should it near Japanese territory. Japan, South Korea, and the United States are putting their heads together to figure out what to do next:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Top nuclear envoys from Japan, South Korea and the United States are set to meet in Washington on Friday, signaling growing concern over North Korea’s plans to launch a long-range missile.
State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid announced the meetings between envoys from the three nations — the first substantive talks on the North Korea issue since U.S. President Barack Obama took office in January.
He said U.S. diplomats responsible for the North Korea nuclear dossier would meet the Japanese and South Korean envoys separately and then all three parties could meet informally too.
Duguid had no details of the agenda but the talks are expected to focus on a long-range missile North Korea has in place for launch, which Washington and its allies say would violate U.N. sanctions imposed on the reclusive state for past weapons tests.
“A launch of any type of vehicle we would consider to be in violation of the U.N. Security Council resolutions,” said Duguid. “This provocative type of action would … not go unnoticed,” he told reporters.
Right at the moment the Obama Administration has quite a bit on its plate. The economy still needs attention, there are several important meetings going on in Europe next week including an international conference on Afghanistan. And North Korea will not be ignored.
