(VOVworld) - The Korean Peninsula has become tense since the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea announced the imminent launch of a long-range rocket carrying on earth-observation satellite. With international efforts to resume 6-party nuclear talks stalled, the latest development adds more ill will to the already strained relations between the two Koreas and Washington.

Rocket launch site (photo: vietnamplus)

On December 5, a South Korean government official said North Korea has completed the assembly of all three stages of the rocket on its launch pad and is preparing for fueling before launching the rocket into orbit from the Dongchang-ri base in the country's northwest. The North Korean news agency KCNA said earlier that the DPRK would launch a long-range rocket carrying a satellite between December 10 and 22 to commemorate the first anniversary of Kim Jong-Il’s death. Pyongyang has notified the International Maritime Organization that the first stage of the rocket should fall at a spot between the Korean peninsula and China, and the second stage at a spot off the eastern coast of the Philippines. Pyongyang insists this is a peaceful satellite for scientific purposes under its plan to build a strong and prosperous nation. 

North Korea’s announcement triggered strong protests from the international community, as did its previous launch in April. The US and South Korea say it’s a disguised ballistic missile test which is prohibited by UN resolutions. Washington has said any satellite launch by Pyongyang is a grave provocation and a head-on challenge to the international community. South Korea has threatened to take North Korea to the UN Security Council and advocate new sanctions.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on Pyongyang to reconsider its decision and halt activities relating to the ballistic program. General Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano said Pyongyang’s plan would have a negative impact on international efforts to create a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. China, an ally of North Korea, also applied diplomatic pressure, with spokesman Hong Lei urging Pyongyang to act prudently and not to conduct activities to raise regional tension.

Japan, South Korea, and the US have all mobilized their advanced weapons. South Korea on Wednesday deployed an early warning radar system. Soul is considering deploying its Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-2) system in case Pyongyang’s rocket goes in the wrong direction.

Meanwhile, Japan has transported a Patriot anti-aircraft and antimissile system to its Okinawa base and will also deploy several destroyers with the Aegis antimissile system to monitor the rocket in the skies of eastern China, Japan, and the Yellow Sea. The Japanese Defense Minister has ordered Japan’s Self-Defense Force to destroy the satellite if it crosses its skies. The US, Japan, and South Korea have worked closely on a plan to monitor and respond to any incident.

There has been no signal that Pyongyang will abandon its launch. Analysts say that in the context of Japan and South Korea preparing for presidential elections, and US President Obama starting a second term, Pyongyang’s move could further damage relations with its neighbors. Two rocket launches in a short period reflect a failed diplomatic effort to denuclearize the Korean peninsula.

Anh Huyen