Yet another worry

It was 7:39 AM yesterday (@ 6:39 AM PHT) when the controversial rocket of North Korea blasted off the hamlet of Tongchang-ri, but nine seconds before two minutes from take off, this supposed space equipment of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea shattered to pieces and fell into the waters of Yellow Sea 165 km west of Seoul, South Korea, according to North American Aerospace Defense Command. This launch failure was viewed in another sense by the military and defense experts of the world, while the Philippine government took it as a cue to relax its alert on the rocket booster’s possible impact as it enters the country’s territory.

The failure did not come a surprise to the government of the United States though it remains vigilant considering the pattern of North Korea’s “provocative act.” North Korea has been reported to have defied United Nations resolution on the cessation any nuclear test and a deal with the US on same drift in exchange for food supply. By DPRK’s launching of this rocket which US, Japan and South Korea believed was ballistic missile, White House underscored its stand that this communist nation is by its gesture “isolating itself.” It, however, urged on multilateral talks although Japan pushes for a range of sanctions against Pyongyang.

North Korea is only further isolating itself by engaging in provocative acts, and is wasting its money on weapons and propaganda displays while the North Korean people go hungry,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said as quoted verbatim in the international news wires. He was further quoted of stating, “Despite the failure of its attempted missile launch, North Korea’s provocative action threatens regional security, violates international law and contravenes its own recent commitments. While this action is not surprising given North Korea’s pattern of aggressive behaviour, any missile activity by North Korea is of concern to the international community.”

Immediately following the superpowers’ observation of the launch’s failure, the United Nations Security Council, according to Fox News Channel, scheduled an emergency meeting to analyze this failed launch and discuss on the next moves to take, especially that failure is not an option for DPRK. According to CNN news report, North Korea could be preparing for yet another underground nuclear test. Reports further said that North Korea’s first two failed attempts to send satellite to orbit in 2006 and 2009 were respectively followed by nuclear tests. International newsmen in Pyongyang are also keen about the absence of any official statement of the Nokor government on this failed launch. No news feed was also seen on TV of North Korea about the blast off and the launch failure. In the meantime, South Korea is in search of debris that fell in the waters of Yellow Sea.

What message could this failed launch be sending across the globe? This event, which Noriyuki Shikata, spokesman of Japan Prime Minister, said is “regrettable development”, is at all another thing that worries the superpowers of the world or specifically US, Britain, Japan and South Korea. In fact, the UN Security Council immediately set a meeting on the aftermath of this failure.

How is the Philippine government taking this development now? In case North Korea launches thereafter a ballistic missile, will the country be able to defend itself from harm. Japan earlier warned that should this rocket enter its territory it will shot down any of its part. But that was Japan. What about the graft-ridden and highly politically-beleaguered Philippines? Will its military forces be able to launch a counter-strike? The Scarborough Shoal stand-off is a vivid show of what the Philippines is capable of and this is one aspect of leadership that should take the focus of the Philippine government.

By: Eileen Nazareno-Ballesteros

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