Japan: N Korea satellite plan would violate UN resolution

TOKYO: A senior offi cial at Japan’s Foreign Ministry said a planned satellite launch by North Korea would be in violation of a UN Security Council resolution, Jiji news agency reported today. Jiji also quoted the offi cial as saying Japan will discuss the issue with the United States and South Korea. North Korea said it would launch a ‘working’ satellite to mark the centenary of its founder Kim Il-sung’s birth next month in the face of a declaration to suspend longrange missile testing. Foreign offi cials have said the past launches are disguised long-range missile tests. The North said on Friday it had already launched two experimental satellites.