(LEAD) N. Korea renews its vow to launch satellite
(ATTN: UPDATES with more comments in paras 4-6, 9-11)
SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korea reiterated its resolve Friday to launch a satellite, calling it a sovereign right, in its latest show of defiance against growing international calls against the provocation.
"The more enemy forces will hamper our plan for space development, the more severe our counteraction will be," the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a dispatch.
North Korea said it is determined to exercise its right to launch a satellite into orbit, no matter what others say about its plan.
It did not specify a launch schedule, however.
The "evil-minded U.S. and South Korean conservative forces" are not empowered to criticize the North's rocket launch move, said the communist nation's mouthpiece.
"It is the unpardonable provocation against the DPRK to take issue with the space development for peaceful purposes, the legitimate right of a sovereign state recognized by international law," KCNA said. "It is our sovereign right to put into space the satellite built with our indigenous efforts and technology from A to Z."
The statement came hours after the United States vowed to do all it can to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear program amid concern that Pyongyang could conduct a nuclear or missile test.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has also warned that North Korea will face "severe consequences" if it forges ahead with irresponsible provocations.
In an interview with KCNA earlier this week, the director of the North’s National Aerospace Development Administration strongly indicated that Pyongyang will continue long-rang rocket launches.
"The world will clearly see a series of satellites … soaring into the sky at the times and locations determined by the [ruling Workers’ party] central committee," he said. Many observers raise the possibility of a launch around the 70th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea on Oct. 10.
The outside world views Pyongyang's self-claimed space program as a cover for the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The satellite launch, if made, could draw international condemnation and tougher sanctions by the U.N Security Council.
North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions for its missile and nuclear tests.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/northkorea/2015/09/18/0401000000AEN20150918006751315.html
