The United States has “noted” North Korea’s launch of a long-range rocket and is monitoring the situation, a US official said.
“We noted the launch and we are monitoring the situation. We will have further official comment later,” a senior administration official told AFP in an email after Pyongyang defied US warnings to successfully launch its rocket.
North Korea confirmed it had launched a long-range rocket Wednesday and succeeded in its mission of placing a satellite into orbit.
“The launch of the second version of our Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite from the Sohae Space Centre… on December 12 was successful,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. “The satellite has entered the orbit as planned.”
But Washington and its allies have long insisted such launches are disguised tests for an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
Last week, the head of the US Pacific Command said Washington had deployed naval ships equipped with ballistic missile defenses and was monitoring North Korea “very closely” ahead of the anticipated launch.
Two guided missile destroyers, the USS Benfold and the USS Fitzgerald, had been sent to the area ahead of the launch, a Navy official said.
The two ships were moving in to “monitor any potential missile launch by North Korea and to reassure regional allies should a launch occur,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Both destroyers are equipped with the sophisticated Aegis ballistic missile defense system.
The UN Security Council was set to hold consultations Wednesday after the launch, at the request of Japan and the United States, a Western diplomat said.
UN resolutions 1718 and 1874 ban Pyongyang from any nuclear or ballistic activity.
US 'noted' N.Korean rocket launch, official says
