The picture shows North Korean rocket Unha-3, carrying the satellite Kwangmyongsong-3, lifting off from the launch pad in Cholsan on December 12, 2012.
The United Nation Security Council has planned to impose new sanctions on North Korea in an attempt to punish the East Asian country for launching a long-range rocket, diplomats say.
The UN Security Council planned to “impose new sanctions on North Korean companies, and government agencies, including North Korea’s space agency responsible for the launch, and several individuals,” said a diplomat on condition of anonymity on Tuesday.
According to reports, the 15-member council is expected to apply sanctions in a resolution to be passed on January 23.
“The resolution condemns the launch and reiterates the Security Council’s previous demands that North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons program and not proceed with further launches,” the diplomat added.
On December 12, 2012, Pyongyang announced that it has launched a long-range rocket from the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, located in Cholsan County of North Pyongan Province, and successfully placed a satellite into orbit.
However, the rocket launch drew widespread criticism from the European Union and the UN, as they threatened to impose further sanctions on North Korea.
On December 14, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un said the country would go ahead with its space program and would launch more rockets and send more satellites into orbit.
This comes while Washington and its allies said the North Korean launch had been a cover for testing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
MAM/PKH
