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Japan protests "regrettable" rocket launch

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-05 11:44

TOKYO - Japan strongly protested the launch of a rocket over its territory by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sunday, saying Pyongyang's move "extremely regrettable".

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's (JMSDF) ballistic missile defense ships Chokai (R) and Kongou leave from a port of JMSDF Sasebo Base in Sasebo, southwestern Japan, March 28, 2009. [Agencies]

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said that even if the object launched was a satellite, it was a violation of UN resolutions, and the Japanese government would convene a security panel meeting in the afternoon.

"From the government's point of view, even if it is a satellite launch it is is a breach of UN resolutions 1695 and 1718, which call for a halt to all North Korea's ballistic missile-related activities, so we had strongly urged North Korea to cancel the launch.

"It is extremely regrettable that North Korea went ahead with the launch despite this and we protest strongly."

The United States, South Korea and Japan had all said ahead of the launch it was a disguised test of the Taepodong-2 missile, designed to carry a warhead to US territory.