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Subscribe to RSSUS officials say an attempted rocket launch in North Korea ended in failure when the rocket broke up shortly after launch. NBC's Bob Windrem reports.
Updated at 10:50 a.m. ET: The United States has canceled a proposed food aid deal with North Korea following over its attempt to launch a long-range rocket taking a satellite into orbit.
Senior administration officials told NBC News the deal with Pyongyang is off after the rocket was fired. It failed shortly after launch and landed in the sea off the South Korea coast.
"We are not going forward with an agreement to provide them with any assistance," White House National Security Council spokesman Ben Rhodes told reporters traveling with President Barack Obama to Florida.
He added that the U.S. and its allies will "take additional steps" if there are more "provocative actions."
Earlier, the G-8 group of countries on Friday condemned North Korea, and a leading Republican said even a failed test would help North Korea develop "technology capable of delivering a nuclear weapon that can threaten American cities tomorrow."
A U.S. official told NBC News that the launch was the fourth time the North Koreans had tried to launch this kind of missile, saying it should serve as a "real wake-up call" for the country's new regime.
In a statement, foreign ministers of the G-8 -- made up of the United States, Canada, Japan, Russia, the U.K., Germany, France and Italy -- raised the possibility of action by the United Nations.
"We, the G-8 Foreign Ministers, condemn the launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which is a violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1695, 1718, and 1874," the statement said.
Reuters graphic showing the rocket's path
"Sharing the view that the launch undermines regional peace and stability, we call on the DPRK to abstain from further launches using ballistic missile technology or other actions which aggravate the situation on the Korean Peninsula," it added.
It said they were "ready to consider, with others, taking measures responding to all activities of the DPRK that violate U.N. Security Council Resolutions."
They said they might also call for what it described an "appropriate response" by the U.N. Security Council.
How will North Korea deal with failure?
The foreign ministers urged North Korea to abandon "all its nuclear weapons and its existing nuclear and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner," end its uranium enrichment activities, and take "concrete and irreversible steps toward denuclearization."
A U.S. official told NBC News that the missile had failed shortly after launch, before the news was confirmed by North Korea itself.
"The North Korean missile failed shortly after launch," the official said. "Think about it: This is the fourth failure to launch this missile as it was designed, and should serve as a real wake-up call for the new government."
North Korea rocket breaks up after much-touted launch
"Their efforts to draw attention to the program certainly seem to have backfired in this case," the official added. "Everyone will be watching closely to see how the government handles this first real test."
U.S. Senate Republican Whip Jon Kyl said in a statement that the missile launch was "yet another provocative action undertaken by the regime in Pyongyang."
"The rocket that the North Koreans attempted to launch employs technology that is relatively identical to that of a ballistic missile, including similar guidance and propulsion systems," he said. "Even a failed launch can provide useful information for North Korea's development of technology capable of delivering a nuclear weapon that can threaten American cities tomorrow."
He said the North Korean regime had "once again" demonstrated "complete disregard for international sanctions and its proclivity for worthless commitments."
Kyl said the Obama administration should "abandon its naive negotiations with North Korea (and Iran), and instead focus on fully funding missile defenses that can protect the United States from ballistic missile threats."
South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that the official North Korean news agency, KCNA, confirmed the rocket had failed to enter orbit about four hours after the launch.
KCNA said that the scientists and engineers were working to find out the cause of failure.
In Japan, there was relief at the failure, but local media were asking why it took the government 40 minutes to confirm the launch to the Japanese public.
NBC's Andrea Mitchell talks to Rachel Maddow about what the recent developments mean in the broader context of America's relationship with North Korea.
Japan's prime minister Yoshihiko Noda urged Pyongyang to abide by all United Nations resolutions and demanded that it takes concrete steps in resolving the various outstanding issues including their nuclear and missile development, as well as addressing the highly charged issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North korean agents.
Japan currently has various sanctions in place against North Korea, among them a ban of all exports and imports and also restricting entry of all North Korean vessels.
Arata Yamamoto, NBC News producer in Tokyo, contributed to this report.
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Ok, the launch failed. So did some of our first tries at launching a missile. Did we just stop trying? No, and neither will the North Koreans, you learn by trying. Now is the time to stop them, not when they begin to be successful. What the failed launch did was to give us more time to take action.
We had the money for lots of them, though. For North Korea, every launch and test represents hopes for a major advance because they don't have the resources to throw away.
we are still at war with n.k , there's only a cease fire in effect . time to finish it now rather then n.k trying to do so with cutting off the head of the snake, nuking a u.s city from n.k would make a huge statement , not to include just the threat alone show's we need to act before it could happen not after .
sure this might be a failed attempt at launching a weather satalite wich by the way is the same means of launching a nuke , we know they have them and have tested them , so the logical next step would be to make a delivery system
god forbid something does happen and all that could have been done to save american lives and her interest wasn't! who wil take responsibly for that ?
Fact Check:
We never declared war on North Korea, so no, we are not at war with them. The armistice agreement of 1953 that ended active hostilities was between the North Korean government, the South Korean government, and the United Nations Command, which was represented by a U.S. general.
Even if N. Korea developed a viable ICBM....which seems a ways off (even if it had worked, the rocket that failed recently was far from a viable ICBM)......the crude nuclear weapons that they have tested thus far are much too large, heavy, and rudimentary to be used as a warhead on a weapons system. You don't just strap a bomb to the end of a missile and light the fuse.
While N. Korea should be watched extremely closely at all times by our intelligence apparatus, and action should be taken if they develop any viable threat, there are far more frightening scenarios out there than anything those little fellas have on the drawing board.
True dat. A war with NK would cause far more damage today than they could plausibly cause with a missile strike even if we give them decades to advance on their own. They're always one button press from nuclear annihilation. They're pouring every resource they can scrape together into developing technology we mastered 50 years ago. Evidence suggests our lead is only going to grow.
The hamster died and the rubber band broke. And there's about a half dozen North Korean rocket scientists who won't be making this morning's meeting.
Come on now we all know the World is ripe for a WW3..Your Politicians will make sure of it..
If there is a WWIII, North Korea won't be involved. World Wars only include IMPORTANT countries (plus Italy).
3000 north korean engineers have failed to show up for work today.. lol
LOL!! "3000 north korean engineers mysteriously found dead in their sleep!"
HaHa
I. CALLED. IT. Launch failure. Morons... keep following the "Great Leader."
So what? G8 except Russia is engaged in war in the middle east. All too often NATO had to 'apologize' to 'unintended' civilian death. NATO did not give their solder proper training resulting in NATO solders forcing their way into civilian homes to murder children, women and innocent men. So what is the beef G8 has on a small nation that is subjected to daily bombardment of western media propaganda as being axis of evil, brutal, aggressive plus all the unconfirmed rumors, lies and fabrications.
North Korea itself is responsible for most of the criticism but NATO with its military actions in the world is not by very very thin margin better.
HMMM! How do you train "solder"? I always thought that was a lead/tin alloy used in joining metals at a low temperature.
Hey, don't make fun of Raymond. You can obviously tell English is his third or fourth language!
Either that, or he's horribly inebriated. That might be it.
Maybe I am a tad bit confused here but that is because I do not look at it from an American Angle.
Are Americans aware of the many rocket tests in their own country? Are Americans aware of the many (UNADVERTISED) failures of rockets and the many NASA mishaps? Do most Americans hear about any of the tests their own country conducts?
No, of course not. The country only advertises the successes. But that alone is not the point.
It is just amazing how countries who have used the same kinds of tests, who already have the capability to obliterate other countries via nuclear means seem to think that they somehow are "the country" who is allowed to have such weapons, but others do not.
What gives? No, North Korea is not a country that most agree with, but such hidden disagreements are found between all the countries.
So who decides which country is good, bad, should have certain weapons or not? Apparently Americans in their godly glory and their allmighty powerfulness seem to think they are in the position to judge such matters for the rest of the nations.
Hey! Is that you Barack?? It certainly sounds like you, you little scamp you!
Maybe your jealousy over rides your brain. Guess you didn"t know. But NASA has to report to our congress when it has a failure. Our FAILURES have never been kept secret.. Since we are the only nation that ever used the atomic bomb and saw its devastation,,, dont you think that makes us more aware of the danger,,Did you know Russia OVERBUILT an atomic bomb that scared their own leaders enough to call off their experimants. WHO has a right to have nuclear weapons is determined by the MENTAL capacity of its leaders.. When a nation like N Korea will sit by and watch 2 million of its own people die from starvation.. World leaders know the same IDIOTS have no thoughts about destroying humans.
Well, if I'm to take your question seriously, Schmet, the UN has several treaties and departments related to nuclear science and technologies, and they play a big part in "deciding" who gets to have nukes and who gets the frowny face when they try. So the simple answer would be the UN.
That aside, I don't get why people think it's weird that when a country makes an amazingly destructive weapon that can wipe out entire cities, they want to have it without any other country having it. It makes perfect sense to me.
My 7 year old and I launch Estes rockets out in the field all the time, maybe they should hire my 7 year old.
I think your kid would earn better money working a lemonade stand.
Sure glad we had Lucky Strike cigarettes after WW2 started coming to its end....Werner Von Braun had a choice..surrender to the Russians or Americans. Being a chain smoker he decided to Talk to the Americans. And when they handed him a pack of Lucky Strike Cigarettes.He signed surrender documents. Thats his account of why he chose America..... If his story is true... Look what a smile and a pack of cigarettes will do... Put Amerrica FIRST in rocket technology.
..and yet with all the reporters around, and all of the recent articles showing satellites looking straight down on the launch site, and all the eyes on earth watching, there isn't one photo or frame of video to prove any of this actually even happened...
I don't think they are too worried about Obama, but let's not get Hillary aggravated. She could give them a very stern look.
LOL yeah,,,, Lip service and few thousand tons of food is all any past presidents have done with N Korea
How many N. Koreans could have been fed by the money which was wasted by thier leader yesterday? How do you keep people acting like zombies thinking you are God? Am I the only one who looks at these idiots and says WTF?
Control all communication. Control all media. Keep infrastructure minimal. Build a cult of personality. Keep education for the masses minimal to foster illiteracy and dependency. Ensure that the people have nowhere to turn to but your government. If all they know is what you tell them, then you have won.
"Dictatorship for Dummies"
SF, you could almost be describing the good ol' USA. That is not a comment from a Left or Right winger, I think they both are so corrupt it's a very thin line between the two.
I just wonder how many people could have been fed with the money that was "burned" on this rocket? Not counting the "weather satellite" this rocket was carrying. Hmmm, it's like having a bar-b-q fire without any food!
I have to wonder, what would happen if everyone had nuclear weapons and the delivery system to hit any place on earth? Kind of a big dog in the backyard type thing. Would anyone use them? I guess i should say "anyone thats sane "? Doesn't every country have the right to defend itself? Just asking
It's quite likely nobody would ever use them.
But then, we've seen some pretty scary regimes in the world, and NK is definitely one of them.
What? You’re telling me that a rocket made of Lego’s, old Chinese truck parts, duct tape and all held together by gum, didn’t work?
Where is General MacArthur when you need him?
Wonder how Asia feels about NK polluting the yellow sea with rocket fuel?
Probably no worse than they feel about NK polluting the Asian continent with their worthless country.
This is a perfect reason not to buy Chinese made stuff. I guess our chemical lasers really work well. What they are designed to do was exactly what happend to the missle.
yesterday, after months long propaganda blitz by a narcissistic dictator to strike fear in the hearts and minds of Americans, a lie was exposed in a dismal failure.
- and –
North Korea’s missile blew up!
Flintstones, meet the Flintstones. Yaba Daba Dud!
I love how the G-8 always seems to place us at the forefront of every conflict. When will some of the other nations step up to the plate ? We are always accused of policing the world......Yet none of them will take on any sort of responsibility. How about someone else for a change. I am sick of other countries standing behind the shield of America saying they have our back !!!! How about someone else gets their hands dirty ? How about someone else does the heavy lifting for a change ?
Because they all know how to get us involved.. First.. Scare hell out of Americans... Send the Military Industrail LOBBYIST to congress and WHAM. Here we go. Notice congress NEVER gets their hands dirty.. NOPE...Just offer american kids with no job and no college a paid college plan.. a few more dollars and let the rich kids stay home....Waste a few TRILLION ..put us in debt for 100 years and then bitch about paying too much in taxes. Those world leaders know exactly how we operate and know how to get us to lead....
Well it's BS ....and it's high time we wake up. The other so called "democratic" nations of the world are using us !
Well, Europe did take the lead in Libya and Syria... so I guess there's that.
But NK is mostly an America problem, since those most threatened are American allies. South Korea and Japan can't deal with NK themselves.
Footage of the launch!!!
http://i.imgur.com/gf8D2.gif
I've taken an hour to read all of your posts. If you take all the idiotic posts, it would have taken me 5 minutes. My bad. I'm going outside and finish planting my garden.
tomatoes on the left hash on the right