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UN circulates NKorean statement on ditching moratorium on nuke and missile testing

The diplomat’s statement was a reply to the Security Council decision to denounce the lift-off of the North Korean missile Unha-3

PYONGYANG, April 29 (Itar-Tass) — The UN Security Council circulated as an official document a statement by the North Korean Foreign Ministry of April 17 that the republic does not consider itself any more bound by an agreement with the US on the moratorium on nuclear and missile tests as well as on a suspension of an uranium enrichment programme at the nuclear centre in Yongbyon, reported the KCNA news agency on Sunday.

A spokesman of the North Korean Foreign Ministry also called as “unjust actions by the UN Security Council, seeking to deprive the republic of the right to satellite launchings”. The diplomat’s statement was a reply to the Security Council decision to denounce the lift-off of the North Korean missile Unha-3 with the satellite aboard on April 13, done in violation of earlier adopted resolutions.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman also emphasized that North Korea “intends to use its right, in future too, to space explorations”.

Pyongyang admitted as a failure the satellite launching, timed to coincide with the 100th birth date of Kim Il-Sung. “The carrier’s blast-off was made at 07.38 local time. However, the satellite did not enter a set orbit. Specialists are now studying reasons for the failure,” reported KCNA and national television five hours after the lift-off.

Staff members of the Space Technology Committee said several days later that they had established reasons for the ill-starred launching.