This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/north-korea-fires-projectiles-into-sea-after-un-passes-new-sanctions/2016/03/03/ab8b0768-e0b9-11e5-8c00-8aa03741dced_story.html

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
North Korea fires projectiles into sea after U.N. passes new sanctions North Korea fires projectiles into sea after U.N. passes new sanctions
(about 5 hours later)
TOKYO — North Korea fired six short-range projectiles into the Sea of Japan Thursday, just hours after the United Nations passed sweeping new sanctions against Kim Jong Un’s regime as punishment for its recent nuclear test and missile launch.TOKYO — North Korea fired six short-range projectiles into the Sea of Japan Thursday, just hours after the United Nations passed sweeping new sanctions against Kim Jong Un’s regime as punishment for its recent nuclear test and missile launch.
It was not immediately clear whether the projectiles were rockets or short-range missiles, but South Korea’s defense ministry said that they were fired from Wonsan, the port city on North Korea’s east coast, at about 10:00 a.m. local time. It was not immediately clear what the projectiles were — but if they were missiles, it would be a clear contravention of U.N. resolutions and a sign that North Korea is spoiling for a fight.
South Korea’s defense ministry said that it was investigating to see whether the projectiles were artillery rockets or short-range ballistic missiles. The projectiles were fired from Wonsan, the port city on North Korea’s east coast, at about 10 a.m. local time, ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun told reporters in Seoul.
They flew as far as 100 miles before falling into the sea, according to local reports.They flew as far as 100 miles before falling into the sea, according to local reports.
An investigation was underway to determine what the projectiles were, ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun told reporters in Seoul. This appeared to be North Korea's response to the U.N. Security Council's unanimous adoption of harsh sanctions against North Korea, some of the strongest measures ever used to pressure Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons program.
On Wednesday afternoon in New York, the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted harsh sanctions against North Korea, imposing some of the strongest measures ever used to pressure Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons program. The new sanctions require cargo inspections for all goods going in and out of North Korea by land, sea or air, and choke off supplies of most aviation fuel for its armed forces. They also ban the sale of all small arms and conventional weapons to Pyongyang and prohibits transactions that raise hard cash for North Korea through sales of its natural resources.
The new sanctions require cargo inspections for all goods going in and out of North Korea by land, sea or air, and choke off supplies of most aviation fuel for its armed forces.
They also ban the sale of all small arms and conventional weapons to Pyongyang and prohibits transactions that raise hard cash for North Korea through sales of its natural resources.
The tough new measures — which won the support of China and Russia, North Korea’s neighbors and closest allies — come after several provocations from the regime this year.The tough new measures — which won the support of China and Russia, North Korea’s neighbors and closest allies — come after several provocations from the regime this year.
In January, Kim ordered North Korea’s fourth nuclear test, and its first in three years. The regime claimed it had detonated a hydrogen bomb, which would be exponentially more powerful than a traditional atomic weapon, but analysts said these claims appeared vastly exaggerated.In January, Kim ordered North Korea’s fourth nuclear test, and its first in three years. The regime claimed it had detonated a hydrogen bomb, which would be exponentially more powerful than a traditional atomic weapon, but analysts said these claims appeared vastly exaggerated.
Then just a month later, Kim oversaw the launch of a long-range rocket, ostensibly part of North Korea’s space research program but widely viewed as cover for its efforts to develop a long-range ballistic missile capable to carrying a nuclear warhead to the continental United States. Then just a month later, Kim oversaw the launch of a long-range rocket, ostensibly part of North Korea’s space research program but widely viewed as cover for its efforts to develop a long-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to the continental United States.
As the Security Council prepared to vote on the resolution Wednesday, North Korea’s media reported that Kim had visited a factory that produces ballistic missiles and subsystems. As the Security Council prepared to vote on the resolution Wednesday, North Korea’s media reported that Kim had visited a factory that produces ballistic missiles and sub-systems.
The Thaesong Machine Factory in Nampo, southwest of Pyongyang, is one of the oldest munitions production sites in the country. Kim visited with the factory his father, Kim Jong Il, only a month before the latter’s death in 2011, according to Michael Madden, who writes the North Korea Leadership Watch blog. The Thaesong Machine Factory in Nampo, southwest of Pyongyang, is one of the oldest munitions production sites in the country. Kim visited the factory with his father, Kim Jong Il, only a month before the latter’s death in 2011, according to Michael Madden, who writes the North Korea Leadership Watch blog.
At the factory, Kim Jong Un “felt very high degree of revolutionary zeal and spirit of the workers” at the factory ahead of the Seventh Congress of the Korean Workers’ Party, due to be held in May.At the factory, Kim Jong Un “felt very high degree of revolutionary zeal and spirit of the workers” at the factory ahead of the Seventh Congress of the Korean Workers’ Party, due to be held in May.
“There will be no fortress unconquerable for us when we go with those workers,” Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. The workers at the factory would become the “vanguard and shock brigade in the struggle for the development of the country’s economy,” Kim was reported to have said.“There will be no fortress unconquerable for us when we go with those workers,” Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. The workers at the factory would become the “vanguard and shock brigade in the struggle for the development of the country’s economy,” Kim was reported to have said.
Much of this year’s fanfare is thought to be preparation for the May congress, which will be the first in 36 years. Analysts say that Kim, whose legitimacy as the third-generation leader of North Korea is tenuous, wants to have tangible achievements to crow about at the event.Much of this year’s fanfare is thought to be preparation for the May congress, which will be the first in 36 years. Analysts say that Kim, whose legitimacy as the third-generation leader of North Korea is tenuous, wants to have tangible achievements to crow about at the event.
North Korea’s neighbors are hopeful that the new sanctions can change Kim’s calculus.North Korea’s neighbors are hopeful that the new sanctions can change Kim’s calculus.
In Beijing, China's official Xinhua news agency called the sanctions “necessary costs North Korea has to pay for its new nuclear test and satellite launch." But the editorial, published Wednesday night, reiterated that "the route of dialogue and negotiation is the key to effectively solve the North Korea nuclear weapon issue." In Beijing, Chinese officials said that the goal of the sanctions was to get North Korea to return to multilateral talks about nuclear disarmament.
South Korea's President Park Geun-hye said that the adoption of the "unprecedentedly tough" sanctions resolution should send a strong message about the international community's desire for peace on the Korean Peninsula. “Sanctions themselves are not the goal,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Thursday. “Dialogue and negotiations are the fundamental way to solve the North Korea issue.”
Meanwhile, in Tokyo, prime minister Shinzo Abe said Japan strongly urged North Korea to "sincerely heed the strong warnings and condemnation repeatedly expressed by the international community and to comply faithfully and fully" with the resolution "without taking further provocative actions," such as nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches. Still, even as he called for the the implementation of the sanctions, Hong reiterated China's stance on not rocking the boat in the region.
“The current situation on the Korean peninsula is complicated and sensitive,” he said. “We hope that various parties will keep calm and restrained and will not make moves that will escalate the situation. All parties have the obligation to maintain peaceful and stable situation on the Korean peninsula.”
South Korea's President Park Geun-hye said that the adoption of the “unprecedentedly tough” sanctions resolution should send a strong message about the international community's desire for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Meanwhile, in Tokyo, prime minister Shinzo Abe said Japan strongly urged North Korea to “sincerely heed the strong warnings and condemnation repeatedly expressed by the international community and to comply faithfully and fully” with the resolution “without taking further provocative actions,” such as nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches.
anna.fifield@washpost.com
anna.fifield@washpost.com
Gu Jinglu in Beijing contributed to this report.Gu Jinglu in Beijing contributed to this report.
U.N. adopts sweeping new sanctions on North KoreaU.N. adopts sweeping new sanctions on North Korea