North Korea vows to go ahead with space programme

Moscow: North Korea will continue further development of its aerospace technologies, including a satellite programme, despite the United Nations Security Council condemnation, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

The North Korean foreign ministry said in a statement that it will continue to exercise its "sovereign right for the use of space", as it was universally accepted by international laws, "which are above UN Security Council resolutions".

The ministry said the UN Security Council resolutions "violate the legitimate right of every country for satellite launches".

"In accordance with the state space programme, we will continue launches of various satellites, including geostationary, required for the country's economic development," the statement said.

Pyongyang also announced the withdrawal from the Feb 29 deal with the US to impose a moratorium on nuclear activities and long-range missile tests in exchange for US food aid.

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After the failed April 13 launch of the Unha-3 rocket, which North Korea had said would put a satellite into orbit, Washington suspended its food aid to the country.

Pyongyang ignored calls to cancel the launch, which the US claimed was cover for a ballistic missile test banned under UN resolutions.

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The launch was condemned by the global community, including the UN Security Council, which said in a statement that it "deplores that such a launch has caused grave security concerns in the region".