1. The Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) detected that North Korea once again launched a long-range missile, in the name of “a working satellite,” at 09:51:20 on December 12, 2012, at a launching site located in Cholsan-gun, North Pyongan province.
2. The launch by North Korea is a flagrant violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006) and 1874 (2009), which prohibit any launch using ballistic missile technology, and constitutes an act of defiance which threatens not only the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula but also international peace and security.
3. The ROK Government joins the international community in strongly condemning North Korea’s decision to push forward with the provocative act, disregarding the international community's repeated warnings and calls for its withdrawal of the launch. North Korea will be held duly accountable for its actions, as clearly warned by the UN Security Council in its Presidential Statement in April.
4. North Korea will be further isolated from the international community due to this launch. The ROK Government once again urges North Korea to use its enormous amount of resources to enhance the livelihood of its people, rather than waste them in developing nuclear weapons and missiles.
5. The ROK Government is maintaining a high readiness posture against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat, as well as any other provocation by North Korea, and will take corresponding measures against the launch in close coordination with related countries and the international community.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kim Sung Hwan
