Korea of the North considers the launch of its satellite a “legitimate right”

Seoul, 18 mar (EFE).-Korea of the North proclaimed today, through a statement by its KCNA News Agency, that the launch of a satellite that has been announced for April is their “legitimate right” and refuted the accusations in question of a covert ballistic test.

“Peaceful development and space exploration are universally recognized legitimate rights of a sovereign State,” reads the release.

“Launches of satellites for scientific research and space exploration for economic development already not can be monopolized by a few countries”, continues.

The Office considers that accusations of United States, Korea in the South and Japan that the launch is actually a weapons test are a way of denying their legitimate rights and a sample of the hostility of these three countries towards the North Korean regime to Pyongyang.

The KCNA statement comes two days after the Communist regime announced that it intends to launch the satellite Kwangmyongsong-3 powered by rocket Unha-3 from a platform next to the Yellow Sea and near the border of North Korea with China between 12 and 16 April,.

The surprise announcement occurred soon after of Korea of the North, under the new leadership of Kim Jong – an after the death of his father last December, commits itself with United States to impose a moratorium of its nuclear programs and missiles in exchange for 240,000 tons of food aid.

Washington, Tokyo and Seoul have judged the announcement as a provocation, because they believe that the Unha-3 is a powerful long range missile capable of carrying an armed head, while the US State Department has indicated that the launch can complicate the agreements reached.

Furthermore, the KCNA said the Kwangmyongsong-3 is a satellite of Earth observation result of investigations by scientists and North Korean technicians and their two previous releases of experimental satellites carried out by Korea in the North to meet international regulations.

In that connection recalled that it has sent relevant information to the International Civil Aviation Organization to the International Maritime Organization to the International Telecommunication Union and other bodies, and that also invited experts and international journalists to witness the launch.