Response to DPRK rocket 'should be prudent'

Beijing says Pyongyang must abide by UN Security Council resolutions

Any United Nations response to Pyongyang's rocket launch should be prudent, Beijing said on Thursday after the Security Council condemned the launch and said it will urgently consider "an appropriate response''.

The international community has remained relatively restrained toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea since the launch, and experts and media are saying this is partially to avoid irritating a country that has the capability to send a long-range missile into US territory.

Pyongyang announced on Wednesday morning that it had successfully placed a satellite in orbit, just days before the first anniversary of nation leader Kim Jong-un's assumption of power.

The launch also served as a warning to countries that have pressured or neglected Pyongyang in recent months.

The DPRK said the purpose of the launch was merely to send a satellite into orbit that will be used for peaceful and scientific purposes.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular news conference on Thursday that Pyongyang has the right to peacefully use outer space, but as a UN member country it has to abide by UN Security Council resolutions.

Hong said: "China believes that the UN Security Council response should be prudent and moderate. It should help maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and avoid further escalating tensions." He reiterated that Beijing regretted Pyongyang's rocket launch.

"The root of the ups and downs in the situation on the Korean Peninsula lies with security concerns," Hong said. "The DPRK satellite launch has further exposed the importance and urgency to restart the Six-Party Talks," he said, calling for relevant sides to make efforts in this regard.

Participants in the talks are China, the DPRK, the Republic of Korea, the United States, Japan and Russia.

The UN Security Council held emergency talks after the launch. "Members of the Security Council condemned this launch, which is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874," said a statement released after the meeting.

"Members of the Security Council will continue consultations on an appropriate response," it said.

The US said there had to be "consequences" for the breach of UN resolutions. Susan Rice, US ambassador to the United Nations, said talks will start immediately on international action.

High-ranking military and security officials from China and the US on Wednesday discussed tensions triggered by the rocket launch during regular defense talks in Washington, but released no details.

Though Washington appears to have taken a tough stand against Pyongyang after the launch, The Associated Press said in an analysis on Thursday that the Obama administration is drawing no "red line'' for the DPRK, tempering its public condemnation to avoid raising tensions or possibly rewarding Pyongyang with too much time in the global spotlight.

The news agency said: "The US wants to forcefully condemn what it believes is a 'highly provocative act', and that was the first public reaction from the White House late Tuesday. But it also is mindful of the turmoil on the Korean Peninsula and is treading carefully, offering no threat of military action or unspecified 'consequences' associated with other hot spots."

The restrained response contrasts with US warnings against Iran and Syria, it added.

Experts have said that as Pyongyang refines its technology, its next step may be to conduct its third nuclear test.

Huang Youfu, a professor of Korean studies at Minzu University of China, said aside from Washington, Seoul is also likely to take a softer attitude toward Pyongyang soon after elections on Wednesday.

"The two main candidates for the ROK presidency tend to be softer than the current President Lee Myung-bak toward Pyongyang. So no matter who wins, eased relations can be expected," Huang said.

"And leaders of the DPRK must have been aware of that. There is no reason for Pyongyang to resist the Six-Party Talks now. However, there might be other factors from other countries blocking the way."