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EU urges DPRK to refrain from satellite launch

Xinhua, March 18, 2012

• The European Union (EU) on Saturday called on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to refrain from the satellite launch plan.

  The EU is "deeply" concerned by the DPRK announcement about plans to carry out a satellite launch next month, said the spokesperson of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in a statement.

  "This launch would be contrary to DPRK's international obligations, in particular under UN Security Council resolution 1874," the statement said, adding "it would also undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts to create an environment conducive for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks on the nuclear issue."

  The high representative calls on the DPRK to confirm as a matter of urgency that it will refrain from the proposed launch and to resume work on mutual confidence building, according to the spokesperson.

  The DPRK announced Friday it would launch an "earth observation" satellite, or the Kwangmyongsong-3, using a long-range Unha-3 rocket to mark the 100th birthday of late leader Kim Il-Sung.

  The official news agency KCNA of DPRK reported on Saturday that the country would invite international observers to monitor the launch of its new satellite.

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