Roundup: DPRK launches rocket

Backgrounder: Chronology of DPRK's satellite, missile launches 

    TOKYO, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government on Friday formally decided to impose additional sanctions on Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in response to its rocket launch Sunday and to extend current sanctions due to expire Monday for one year.

    The additional sanctions reduce the amount of remittance to the DPRK subject to reporting to the Japanese government from more than 30 million yen (about 298,000 U.S. dollars) to more than 10 million yen (about 99,480 U.S. dollars) and lower the amount of money subject to reporting by travelers to the DPRK from more than1 million (about 9,948 U.S. dollars) to more than 300,000 yen (about 2,984 U.S. dollars).

    "The measure is aimed at getting a clearer picture of fund flows to North Korea (DPRK)," Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura told reporters, adding that the move is "appropriate giving consideration to the unsettled abduction issue".

    The government is also determined to extend the current sanctions, including a ban on port calls by DPRK-registered vessels, by one year instead of six months.

    The government has decided to give up on its plan to include a total ban on exports to the DPRK as the effectiveness of such a ban would be limited given that the value of exports to the DPRK stands at around several hundred million yen (several million U.S. dollars) each year, according to Kyodo News.

    Japan imposed sanctions on DPRK in July 2006 after it test-fired ballistic missiles, and placed a ban on imports from the country following the nuclear test in October that year. The sanctions have since been extended every six months.

Five powers, Japan to continue consultations on DPRK launch

    UNITED NATIONS, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Japan, a non-permanent council member, will continue closed-door consultations on the launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), U.S. UN Ambassador Susan Rice said here on Thursday.

    Speaking to reporters at the end of their closed-door consultations, Rice said "our meeting is productive, and our work continues." Full story

Japan: DPRK launch "a big test" for UN Security Council

Shintaro Ito, state secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan, addresses the media after a meeting with UN Security Council representatives over the rocket launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York April 9, 2009. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) Photo Gallery>>>

    UNITED NATIONS, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The rocket launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "is a big test for the United Nations Security Council itself," a senior Japanese diplomat said here on Thursday. Full story

Russia opposes possible UN resolution on new sanctions against DPRK

    MOSCOW, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia opposes a possible tough resolution of the United Nations (UN) Security Council to impose new sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

    "There is an idea of a tough resolution stipulating new sanctions against DPRK. We do not want that," the Interfax news agency quoted spokesman Andrei Nesterenko as saying.  Full story

UN chief hopes to see unified Security Council response to DPRK's rocket launch

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses the media at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, April 7, 2009. Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday voiced his hope that the Security Council will send a unified message to the rocket launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    UNITED NATIONS, April 7 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday voiced his hope that the Security Council will send a unified message to the rocket launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

    Ban made the statement to the reporters here that "my hope is that the Security Council will come out with a unified message on the (DPRK's launch) issue." Full story

China calls for cautious UN reactions to DPRK launching activity

    BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations should react cautiously to the launch activity of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said here Tuesday.

   "China always takes a cautious attitude toward (imposing) sanctions. We think that the reaction of the UN Security Council should help safeguard the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and northeast Asia, as well as help promote the six-party talks," she told a regular press conference. Full story