Land of the rising rocket

Japan says it will shoot down North Korea’s planned rocket launch next month if it passes over Japanese territory.

The news comes shortly after Pyongyang announced it will put a satellite into orbit between 12-16 April to mark the centennial of founding leader Kim Il-sung.

But the US and North Korea’s neighbours insist it will be a disguised long-range missile test, contravening UN resolutions.

The launch comes weeks after North Korea agreed to continue talks on its nuclear program in exchange for food aid from the US – a deal which is now on hold.

Regardless of the real intentions of the launch, it is sad that Pyongyang has chosen to feed its star-bound ambitions instead of its starving population.