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aggression” that “…escalated the confrontation and tension on the<br />

Korean Peninsula and increased the danger of nuclear war.” The<br />

pursuit of the exercise in spite of repeated warnings was seen as a sign<br />

“…that there is no change in their hostile policy towards it and their<br />

ambition for invading it.” 386<br />

On April 5, North Korea launched a long-range rocket that was<br />

widely condemned as a de facto missile test. The launch took place in<br />

violation of the UN Security Council resolution 1718 adopted in 2006<br />

after the North Korean missile and nuclear tests. One reason for the<br />

test could have been to consolidate Kim Jong Il’s power, following<br />

rumours of his bad health and the possible nomination of his third son<br />

as his successor. The South Korean President Lee Myung-bak declared<br />

the same day: “North Korea’s reckless act that threatens regional and<br />

global security cannot be justified under any circumstances.” The<br />

National Assembly adopted a resolution that denounced the act as a<br />

“serious provocation.”<br />

On April 13, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a<br />

chairman’s statement that condemned the rocket launch and<br />

demanded that North Korea refrain from any further ballistic missile<br />

tests and return to the deadlocked six-party talks. In contrast, on April<br />

7 the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) had quoted an editorial on<br />

“the successful satellite launch” from the Rodong Sinmun (Workers’ Daily):<br />

386_ Jung, “UNC-NK Military Talks End Without Results” (http://www.koreaherald.<br />

co.kr/, March 2, 20<strong>09</strong>); KCNA, “Papers on Gravity of Joint Military Exercises<br />

Targeted against DPRK” (http://www.kcna.co.jp/index. e-htm, March 21, 20<strong>09</strong>);<br />

Kim, “Generals meet at Panmunjom” (http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/, March 2,<br />

20<strong>09</strong>); The Korea Herald, “N. Korea, U.N. Command end border talks amid<br />

tension over drill” (http://www.koreaherald.co.kr, March 6, 20<strong>09</strong>): “N.K. closes<br />

air routes for launch of rocket” (http://www.koreaherald.co.kr, March 23, 20<strong>09</strong>).<br />

510 Peace-keeping in the Korean Peninsula

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