Japan to seek new U.N. resolution if N. Korea launches 'satellite'+

TOKYO, March 2 Kyodo - The Japanese government plans to call for a meeting of the U.N. Security Council and seek a new resolution which includes additional sanctions if North Korea says it has launched a ''satellite'' as it has previously claimed, as it
violates the existing resolution, government sources said Monday.

Japan, which began serving as a nonpermanent member of the U.N. Security
Council from January, plans to expand its ties with the United States and other
council members over the North Korea issue while standing ready to work on
additional sanctions, the sources said.
Prime Minister Taro Aso told reporters, ''We have the experience'' of imposing
sanctions when North Korea launched missiles in July 2006. ''The matter will be
discussed at the U.N. Security Council.''
Aso also suggested that the launch of a satellite by North Korea would violate
the U.N. Security Council resolution and lead to possible sanctions on the
country.
His comments came after Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone told senior Chinese
officials Sunday that Japan believes a launch of the object would be in
violation of the resolution adopted in 2006 that prohibits North Korea from
engaging in any ballistic missile activities.
The U.N. Security Council adopted a similar resolution after North Korea
carried out a nuclear test in October 2006.
Japan has judged that North Korea will violate the resolution with a launch
even if the country claims it to be a satellite, as the means of launching a
satellite and a ballistic missile are ''virtually identical,'' Japanese Vice
Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka said at a news conference.
Akitaka Saiki, director general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and
Oceanian Affairs Bureau, and senior U.S. envoy for North Korea Stephen Bosworth
are expected to meet as early as Thursday to discuss how to respond in case of
a launch.
On Monday, Nakasone and his South Korean counterpart Yu Myung Hwan reaffirmed
in telephone talks that a missile launch, even if it were for a satellite as
Pyongyang claims, would be considered a violation of a 2006 U.N. Security
Council resolution, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
Aso, meanwhile, suggested such an object may be subject to interception under
the Self-Defense Forces Law, if there is a possibility of it causing damage to
Japan.
North Korea has said it is ready to launch an experimental communications
satellite, sparking concerns it may be preparing to test-fire an improved
version of its Taepodong-2 ballistic missile.