Legal Journals

International Community Condemns North Korea Missile Launch

By jruby

The international community roundly condemned North Korea following the test launch of a missile capable of striking targets throughout East Asia as well as in Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands.  President Obama and other international leaders issued strong rebukes following news of the launch.

President Obama, speaking in Prague, called the launch a “provocative action” and urged the North Koreans to avoid further such actions and abide by their international obligations.  A joint U.S.-European Union statement called for a response from the broader international community.  Both calls highlighted U.N. Security Council Resolutions prohibiting North Korea from nuclear or missile tests and suggested that the Security Council respond.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the launch as well but did not mention action by the Security Council or whether it would pursue the matter further.  The Security Council was scheduled to meet in emergency session following the launch to consider a response.

President Obama used the opportunity to highlight his Administration’s broader efforts to stabilize the Korean Peninsula and to advance the cause of nuclear nonproliferation.

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Full post as published by Harvard International Law Journal Digest on April 09, 2009 (boomark / email).