Envoy in China to discuss NK

Seoul’s top nuclear envoy Lim Sungnam makes his way through Beijing Capital International Airport Thursday ahead of talks in the Chinese capital on the situation in North Korea. / Yonhap

Seoul’s top nuclear envoy Lim Sung-nam left for Beijing Thursday to discuss North Korea as speculation mounted over a possible long-range missile launch by Pyongyang.

Recent satellite images have shown preparations being made at a launch site at the North’s Sohae Satellite Launch Station on the nation’s West Coast, raising the specter of a second missile test by the North since April.

Any attempt to get the rocket off the ground would be considered as a test of ballistic missile technology, though Pyongyang would disguise it as an attempt to put a satellite into orbit.

Amid heightened concern, Lim, Seoul’s chief negotiator to the Six-Party talks on denuclearizing the North, was slated to meet with his counterpart Wu Dawei to “exchange views on the recent situation on the Korean Peninsula.”

The two-day trip will be his first since Xi Jinping was officially confirmed as the new leader of China, giving Seoul a chance to feel out the approach of Beijing’s new leadership toward Pyongyang, its neighbor.

Based the satellite imagery of the site, officials and outside analysts say the launch could occur in the coming weeks, citing movement at the launch site consistent with Pyongyang’s failed launch of its Unha-3 missile on April 13.

According to analysis by satellite operator DigitalGlobe, “Given the observed level of activity noted, of a new tent, trucks, people and numerous portable fuel/oxidizer tanks, should North Korea desire — it could possibly conduct its fifth satellite launch event during the next three weeks.”

The last launch, which ended in failure, attracted condemnation including in the form of a U.N. Security Council presidential statement.

Officials here have declined to comment on the likelihood of a fresh launch, but have long warned that Pyongyang could attempt to influence the Dec. 19 presidential polls with a disruptive activity.

Analysts suggest the preparations are an attempt by the North to gain leverage at a time of regional flux, as China transitions to its fifth generation of leaders and the Lee Myung-bak government prepares to leave office. Candidates to succeed him have all pledged to try to engage the North with economic cooperation.

Pyongyang walked out of the six-party talks, which involve the two Koreas, the United States, Japan, Russia and China in 2009 ahead of carrying out a second nuclear test.

The North stifled momentum toward resumption of the talks with the April launch.
The failed launch broke a nuclear-freeze-for-aid deal with Washington. The deal paved the way for a return to negotiations. <The Korea Times/Kim Young-jin>