North Korea’s actions are often viewed with concern and alarm since it’s not the easiest of countries to deal with. Soon after testing what it claimed to be a hydrogen bomb it has emerged that the country is going to launch a satellite into space later this month. The Associated Press reports that the launch could take place over the next three weeks.
An official at the International Maritime Organization in London, the body that regulates shipping and safety of international waters, revealed on the condition of anonymity that North Korea has declared it’s going to launch an Earth observation satellite between February 8th and February 25th.
The international community isn’t likely to be pleased with this launch since it’s going to see it as a workaround for North Korea to test its long-range missile technology. With growing concern about its nuclear weapons program, further testing of its missile technology is likely to put many countries on edge.
This won’t be the first satellite launch for North Korea though since it launched a communications satellite back in December 2012. That launch wasn’t well received as well with the White House calling it “another example of North Korea’s pattern of irresponsible behavior” even though the probe eventually tumbled out of control.
Filed in .. Source: bigstory.ap.org