Russia asked North Korea Wedndesday to halt its planned rocket launch this month, saying that it will breach international law. The message was delivered to the North Korean diplomatic mission in Moscow by Igor Morgulov, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister.
"We have to state that by intending to violate the requirements of the UN Security Council once again, the DPRK shows defiant disregard of the universally recognized norms of international law," the Foreign Ministry official said, according to Xinhua.
The rocket will purportedly launch a North Korean "earth observation satellite" into orbit. The country has notified at least three U.N. agencies of this development, which could take place between Feb. 8 and 25, Reuters reported.
Russia has also warned North Korea that by proceeding with the rocket launch, it would be escalating tensions in Northeast Asia. The Foreign Ministry has also mentioned possible consequences should the country defy the international call to stop the rocket launch.
North Korea has been increasingly isolated in this particular issue. China has already expressed its concern, urging the country Wednesday to exercise restraint. Japan and South Korea - for their part - have raised their suspicion that the rocket launch is actually a long-range ballistic missile test, Business Standard reported.
