前白宮助理稱朝鮮衛星發射違反協議

A former senior White House aide on Asia policy says North Korea's recently announced plan to launch a satellite into orbit would violate an agreement with the U.S. on the suspension of ballistic missile testing. Victor Cha, the former director of the National Security Council for Asian Affairs, says when Pyongyang agreed last month to suspend missile tests, that "clearly" included a moratorium on satellite launches, as well. Cha said North Korea was the only country that makes a distinction between satellite launches and ballistic missile tests, calling the announcement a "slap in the face" to the international community.

North Korea said on Friday it would launch a satellite into orbit in mid-April for "peaceful scientific purposes." It says the launch does not violate the agreement with the United States. Last month, North Korea agreed to suspend uranium enrichmen, and allow the return of United Nations weapons inspectors and stop long-range missile tests. At the same time, the United States agreed to send North Korea desperately needed food aid.前美國國家安全委員會亞洲事務主任維克多·查說，朝鮮最近宣佈的將衛星發射進入軌道的計劃將違反與美國達成的暫停彈道導彈試驗的協議。維克多·查說，朝鮮政府上個月同意中止導彈試驗時，這項協議“明顯”也包括了暫停衛星發射。維克多·查說，朝鮮是唯一一個把衛星發射和彈道導彈試驗區分開的國家，他稱朝鮮的宣佈是對國際社會的侮辱。

朝鮮星期五說，將在四月中旬“爲了和平的科學目的”將一枚衛星發射進入軌道。朝鮮說，衛星發射沒有違反與美國的協議。朝鮮上個月同意中止鈾濃縮，允許聯合國武器檢查員返回朝鮮，並停止遠程導彈試驗。與此同時，美國同意向朝鮮運送該國急需的食品援助。