April 5 (Reuters) - North Korea launched a long-range rocket over Japan on Sunday, drawing swift international condemnation and triggering an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council.
Here is a selection of quotes from world leaders:
UNITED STATES
President Barack Obama:
"North Korea's development and proliferation of ballistic missile technology pose a threat to the northeast Asian region and to international peace and security.
"With this provocative act, North Korea has ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations."
SOUTH KOREA
Foreign Minister Yoo Myung-hwan:
"The North's launch is a provocative act that clearly violates U.N. Security Council 1718 that regardless of the North's claims threatens peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia.
"This government and the international community is deeply disappointed that the North went ahead with the long-range missile at the enormous cost that could resolve its chronic food shortage.
"The government is stepping up readiness in response to any provocation by the North and is taking specific actions against this launch together with the United Nations and related countries."
JAPAN
Prime Minister Taro Aso:
"The fact that North Korea went ahead with the launch despite repeated warnings from around the world, especially the United States, South Korea and Japan, was an extremely provocative act and one that Japan cannot let go unchallenged.
"So, cooperating with the international community, we want to respond (considering that) it was clearly a violation of the U.N. resolutions."
CHINA
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu:
"We hope related parties stay calm and exercise restraint, appropriately deal with it and together maintain peace and stability in this region. The Chinese side is willing to continue to play a constructive role."
RUSSIA
Foreign Ministry spokesman:
"We are checking whether this (launch) is not a violation of certain resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and call on all sides to refrain from actions that could lead to escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula."
UNITED NATIONS
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
"Given the volatility in the region ... such a launch is not conducive to efforts to promote dialogue, regional peace and stability. The Secretary-General urges (North Korea) to comply with relevant Security Council resolutions."
EUROPEAN UNION
EU Presidency (held by Czech government)
"These actions place additional strains on regional stability at a time when the unresolved nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula requires mutual confidence-building."
(Compiled by Asia Desk, Singapore)
Source: Reuters
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