WASHINGTON: The top diplomats of South Korea, Japan and the United States held a call on Friday to discuss North Korea’s latest launch of a spy satellite which they strongly denounced, the U.S. State Department stated.
South Korea Foreign Minister Park Jin, Japan Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken strongly denounced the November 21st launch for its destabilizing impact on the region,” the State Department maintained.
In their call on Friday, they said the world needed to “come together to stop North Korea’s procurement activities and stalk the flow of revenue supporting its unlawful ballistic missile programs and weapons of mass destruction,” the State Department further said.
Top Diplomats of Japan, South Korea, US Discuss North Korea Spy Satellite Launch
Earlier on Tuesday, North Korea said it had put its first spy satellite in orbit, drawing global condemnation for violating United Nations resolutions that stop its use of technology applicable to ballistic missile programs. However, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stated the satellite launch was an exercise of the right to self-defence.
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This week’s spy satellite launch was North Korea’s third try in the current year following two failures and followed Kim Jong Un ‘s rare visit to Russia in September, during which President Putin pledged to support North Korea build satellites.
Authorities in South Korean claimed the latest launch most likely involved Russian technical help under an increasing partnership that has seen North Korea supply Moscow with millions of artillery ammunitions. However, North Korea and Russia have rejected arms agreement but have pledged deeper cooperation.
