Asiana21

LAUNCH? WHAT LAUNCH?

Donald Kirk

Asia Times, April 4, 2009

SEOUL - The United States and others may be on shaky ground if they think they can pin a charge of "violation of international law" on North Korea for putting a satellite into orbit.

With no serious international court of last resort in any authority to decide on the right or wrong of launching a long-range missile disguised as a satellite, countries do have the right to international space exploration. Just check out the Outer Space Treaty, otherwise known as the "Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space including the Mood and Other Celestial Bodies", signed by North Korea along with just about every other space-minded country more than 40 years ago.

The fact that hardly anyone believes North Korea's upcoming missile is poised on the pad all for the sake of launching a satellite is not likely to impress all members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council if the United States tries to twist arms into a firm resolution of condemnation.

Neither China nor Russia is standing on the sidelines wishing the North Koreans happy travels into outer space, but they may be reluctant to vote in favor of any shrill denunciations from the Security Council. The Chinese in particular, as North Korea's only real ally and source of sustenance to feed and fuel the regime, aren't expected to be all that sympathetic.

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