India has condemned the rocket launch by North Korean by stating that it threatens the peace and stability in the Korean peninsula.
On Wednesday, North Korea launched a long-range rocket which had put a satellite in orbit. The timing of the launch came as a surprise amidst earlier reports that the launch pad was being partially dismantled.
“This unwarranted action by the Government of DPRK has adversely impacted peace and stability in the Korean peninsula,” said the official statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs.
The success of the launch comes as a major boost for the Kim Jong-un regime, with the earlier rocket launch in April not going beyond the second stage. Immediately after the rocket launch, there was a chorus of condemnation from around the world, with even the hermit nation’s sole ally, China, expressing regret. Echoing the condemnation, India said that it was concerned at the launch of a rocket by North Korea which is “in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874”.
The UNSC resolution, which was passed in May 2009 after North Korea conducted a nuclear test, had imposed economic sanctions and called on the isolated East Asian nation to not conduct any nuclear or missile tests.
Japan has called for a meeting of the UNSC after the launch, but no new imposition of additional sanctions is expected due to China.
Incidentally, North Korea for the first time ever invited India, through ISRO, to witness the April rocket launch, which was timed to be the highlight of celebrations to mark the installation of Kim Jong-un. India had not accepted the invitation.