US Warns North Korea Not to Launch Satellite, But Not Sure How to Deter Them
EmailABC News’ Kirit Radia Reports: The State Department today confirmed that North Korea had informed various international agencies that it plans to launch "some sort of experimental communications satellite" during the first week of April.
Acting spokesman Robert Wood warned that such a launch would be a "provocative" act that would destabilize the region.
"We think the North needs to desist or not carry out this type of provocative act and sit down with the other members of the six-party talks and work on the process of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula," Wood told reporters.
Wood, however, conceded that the United States did not know how to deter Pyongyang from going ahead with its launch plans.
"It’s hard to say what will influence North Korea. We just don’t know. What we want to try to do is work with our partners and others around the world who share this interest in preventing the North from carrying out this type of provocative act," he said.
Wood would not elaborate on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s remarks Wednesday that the United States and its allies were weighing a range of responses should North Korea proceed with the launch.
He said the US is engaged in diplomatic efforts to try and convince Pyongyang not to go ahead, but provided no further details. A senior State Department official later said that the United States and North Korea had communicated last week via the so-called New York Channel, meaning through their diplomatic missions at the United Nations, but the official did not know if this specific issue was discussed.
Clinton Wednesday said US six-party talks envoy Stephen Bosworth was prepared to go to Pyongyang on his recent trip to Asia, but was not invited.
"He was not invited to go to North Korea, which we regret," Clinton said yesterday after meeting with the visiting Chinese foreign minister.
Today Wood said there were no plans to send Bosworth to North Korea.
Some reports have suggested that North Korea’s announced satellite launch could be a cover for a test of a new long-range missile capable of hitting the western United States.
In an interview with ABC’s Martha Raddatz, Admiral Timothy Keating, the head of the US military’s Pacific Command that covers North Korea, said the US military would be ready to shoot down the North Korean rocket if ordered to do so.
"We’ve got Aegis cruisers, we’ve got radars, we’ve got space-based systems, we’ve got ground-based interceptors. We will be fully prepared to respond as the President directs," Keating said.
"If we detect something other than a spaced-launch vehicle and we respond, odds are very high that we’ll hit what we’re aiming at with our ground-based interceptors," he added.
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Obama’s answer will probably be like Bill Clinton’s answer to the NorK’s nuclear development:
Send Jimmy Carter over to give away the farm by promising oil and food in return for promises to stop weapons work–with NO allowance for verification!
Posted by: Jimmy Carter to the Rescue! | March 12, 2009, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
In North Korea the papers usually say:
North Korea Warns US Not to Launch Satellite, But Not Sure How to Deter Them
If NK hits something accidentally watch out!
Posted by: Huh | March 12, 2009, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm
Who the &$%* r we to tell them not to do this? We bought Israel a launcher and satellites, and their human rights record is almost as bad.
And, why is Ocrapa sticking w/ the 6 Party Charade? Bush ony pushed it because he knew the North was so against it that they wold never cooperate w/ the farce.
Hey Ocrapa!!! Less time spending money we borrow from China, and more time scrapping Bush’s horrible policies.
Posted by: POW/MIA | March 12, 2009, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
Well, I thought the Demi-Dems said that Hillary or Barrack (as prez or sos) were just going to be SO good as international politicians & diplomats that all our problems would just ‘melt away’ as soon as they were on the scene. President Bush was just such an evil doer that none of his approaches or assessments could possibly be correct……….. — as ‘Hillary dillary Dock’ talks tough to N. Korea & looks the other way on China’s infractions. –
Why I thought that she was just going to be ‘So Nice’ and Respectful of other nations peoples that everything would just fall into place. You know, Bush was just SO Mean & Hateful and that was why there were Bad People in the world…………..You mean to tell me that some Bad Guys are just So Bad that they will not listen to kind words, Liberalistic Humanitarianism, and behind the scenes Political Niceties…………..
You mean to tell me that these Bad Guy World Leaders just could not feel the ‘Warm Glow’ coming off of Hillary as she approached so that they just gave in with Warm Hugs & Smiles……….Tell me it ain’t so Josephine.
(welcome to the real world libbies)
Posted by: Mr Reality | March 12, 2009, 6:22 pm 6:22 pm
If they’re “just practicing” putting one up, perhaps we can “just practice” shooting one down.
Posted by: Tom Beebe | March 12, 2009, 6:35 pm 6:35 pm
Hold on, dont be concerned! This is just a phone call for “O”. He will get NK on the phone and solve this thing before the Sunday news shows come on.
Posted by: Mike_C | March 13, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am
Let NK do whatever they want to. The US should focus on defense. If it crosses international waters and enters US airspace, we have the right to shoot it down.
Posted by: World Peace | March 13, 2009, 11:12 am 11:12 am
And why can’t North Korea launch a satellite? We several every week it seems.
Posted by: radgash | March 14, 2009, 1:43 am 1:43 am
Our military is entirely capable of intercepting this missle, should it be deemed a threat, but after all this talk of “dirty bombs” and such like, can it be assumed that its payload might not pose a threat in its debris field — especially if we have no intel specifics conserning it?
Posted by: Spartan Phoenix777 | March 14, 2009, 4:25 am 4:25 am
There is a larger threat of the repercussion of nailing this satellite than that of its payload. It is stupid and totally irresponsible for our nation to posture in such a manner.
Posted by: radgash | March 14, 2009, 9:46 am 9:46 am
What exactly gives us the right to threaten a sovereign nation that wishes to do the same thing that our nation has done for years? We don’t ask the world’s permission to put up hundreds of spy satellites, nor do we ask them if we can take pictures of their private matters, but we do. I and a lot of other people are tired of this “pot calling the kettle black” mentality. It’s juvenile.
Posted by: Philo | March 14, 2009, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
Send them a basket of DVDs as a good will gesture. That should do it.
The One and Shrillary are just soooo brilliant, I’m sure dealing with the original Dear Leader is mere child’s play to Community Organizer No.1.
Posted by: RR GOP | March 14, 2009, 9:21 pm 9:21 pm
What ever happened to the Star Wars program? I venture to guess we just havent told anyone we improved it and already have a very precise system just in case we need it. I believe that is the real warning they are speaking of. Its already up there waiting for a target. If they must, I would prefer they blow it up in space and not on its way back. Then again, we have had missles pointed at them for quite some time, why cant they? Russia still does.
Posted by: tendergroins | March 15, 2009, 1:46 pm 1:46 pm
More BRILLIANT policy from the Obama Administration! Speak loudly and carry a ……… or Speak softy and carry a ………
Well, at least SPEAK!
Posted by: Mike_C | March 16, 2009, 10:03 am 10:03 am
People lets get real. First of all April 2nd is the last deadline I have heard on the launch date. Second, this North Korean Leader is just a big baby. The United States has given him money hand over fist for many years now. Third, I think its time the United States took the hardline approach. If this leader decides to continue his tantrum blow him to smitherins. Our good presidents would never have listened to the ramblings of such a child. They would have already dealt with him. Some many want peace, I personally want security. Get rid of N.Korea, Iran and any other Nation that decides to give us a threat. Show them we don’t take that stuff. Show them if they threaten our safety we consider that as an act of war. Kick them to the curb. With that in mind the people of N. Korea may decide to oust their leader for being the big baby he has been. Satellite, yeah I believe we heard that on the last missle test he did. Think about it, he may actually have the technology now to strike our ground. Well maybe not so bad he could hit either CA or Alaska. Well I hope Alaska remains safe. Hit CA that would be okay wipe out the badness as long as the good people are out of the state it would be way cool with me. So Obama leave N.K. be just go to CA find the good people and leave the rest for N.K. to clean up for us. Yeah, perfect solution to fix the ils of CA. Watch out people. sorry, but when you want them to leave a tyrant alone maybe the tyrant should show you what he is really planning. Maybe then you will realize that the United States is actually under attack so far just verbally, but if the date stays the same then on April 2 CA or Alaska may be on the lookout for a suprise they may not want. Oh wait, Obama may decide to bend to the Bushes way of dealing with him and you know give him the money he is asking for. LOL we just have to wait and see. On a real note I think we need to deal with him on a perminent basis. enough is enough.
Posted by: hydrab | March 23, 2009, 2:27 am 2:27 am