Korea Rocket Never Made Orbit

Vows to restart nuclear plants if sanctioned

(NEWSER) - North Korea said today it would reopen its nuclear facilities if the UN Security Council takes action over a planned missile launch, Reuters reports. If the UN adds sanctions against North Korea, Pyongyang said it would reverse the closing of both a nuclear reactor and its Yongbyon atomic plant, which was part of a pan-Asian deal signed in 2005. More»

US-drafted measure strengthened by Obama appearance at meeting

(NEWSER) - The UN Security Council today adopted a US-drafted resolution that outlines much of President Obama’s plan to rid the world of nuclear weapons. The president’s attendance at the meeting of heads of state—just the fifth in UN history—underscores the centrality of the issue for his administration. Though the measure passed unanimously, the US was not able to convince Russia and China to include Iran and North Korea by name, notes the Washington Post. More»

(NEWSER) - North Korea says it will view any punishment for its recent rocket launch as a threat to its very sovereignty and will take "necessary and strong steps" in response, the BBC reports. It did not specify what those steps might be. "Every country has the inalienable right to use outer space peacefully," said the North's deputy ambassador to the UN. More»

Satellite images of rocket flight released by anti-nuke group

(NEWSER) - An institution devoted to stopping the spread of nuclear weapons has released images believed to be of North Korea's rocket in flight on Sunday, reports CNN. The Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security says the images, taken from satellite, clearly show the exhaust plume from the rocket's burning propellant and the terrain around the launch pad. More»

Russia, China resist as US, Japan call for punishment

(NEWSER) - The US and Japan have hit international resistance as they push for a firm response to yesterday’s North Korean rocket launch over Japan, the Guardian reports. As the second day of emergency UN talks begins today, China and Russia aren’t backing a proposed statement condemning the move from Pyongyang and boosting UN sanctions. China and Russia “appear reserved and cautious,” Japan’s foreign minister said this morning. More»