Aquino calls for int’l action to stop North Korea’s rocket launch

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III called for a “concerted international action” to persuade North Korea to halt its planned rocket launch which he described as a “needless provocation” that “increases tensions” in the region.

North Korea had announced it will launch a rocket to put a satellite into space sometime between April 12 to 16. The United States and other countries have expressed alarm saying that it is actually a long-range ballistic missile. North Korea’s neighbors, Japan and South Korea, have declared that they will shoot down the rocket should it threaten their territories.

Aquino, who spoke at the retreat session of the 20th ASEAN Summit in Cambodia, said that the rocket launch violates two United Nation’s Security Council Resolutions, a statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday.

“It increases tensions, particularly in the period of uncertainty leading up to the launch—where no one is sure of the trajectory of the missile. In particular, debris from the launch may potentially land in our territory. This is a needless provocation not only in the Korean peninsula, but in our entire region,” President Aquino told ASEAN leaders.

The rocket is said to be composed of multiple stages of boosters, the second stage will jettison from the main body once its fuel is spent and will fall from the atmosphere and into the Pacific Ocean East of Luzon.

The government has already issued a no-fly zone from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 12 up to 16 in an area 190 nautical miles northeast of Sta. Ana, Cagayan province and 140 nautical miles east of Polilio Island, Quezon province where the debris from the second stage is expected to splash into the ocean.

All sea vessels, as well as fishermen, have also been advised to avoid the area.

“The way forward is for [North Korea] to abandon the launch and return to actions that promote confidence-building among its neighbors. We hope for the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks and for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to eventually undertake complete, irreversible and verifiable denuclearization,” Aquino said in the statement.

“Stability, peace and prosperity in our region require all of us to continue to engage with each other, and the larger international community in ways that build confidence,” Aquino added.