North Korea - interview

Japan can breathe easy after it says North Korea's launch failed

Article published on the 2009-04-06 Latest update 2009-04-07 14:37 TU

Protesters during an anti-North Korea rally in Seoul denouncing the North's planned rocket launch 2 April 2009.
(Photo: Reuters)

Japan is right to breathe a big sigh of relief following North Korea's rocket launch over the weekend that proved to be a dud, says Aidan Foster-Carter, a Korea expert at Britain's Leeds University. While Japan is relieved, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il is not embarrassed about the failed satellite launch, he says.

The British-based Korea-watcher believes that since ordinary North Koreans don't have internet access, many would not know it was a failed launch unless the government admitted the fact.

"North Korea doesn't care because they aren't telling their own people that," he says. "Just like they did when they launched a long-range missile over Japan with no warning that time back in 1998."

"They are proudly boasting that they launched a satellite into orbit."

North Korea stirred up controversy by announcing its intention to launch the rocket, and yet again when it vowed to attack the Japanese if the satellite were shot down.

Pyongyang played a game of provocation, Foster-Carter explains, and the west and Japan got caught up in act.

"I have a cat that really likes nothing better than making the dog next door bark," he offers in an analogy.

Pyongyang needs to be more considerate of China in Foster-Carter's opinion. Though the pair used to be as close as "lips and teeth", he says, North Korea must not upset China.

China criticised North Korea in 2006 for testing a nuclear weapon, but Foster-Carter expects Chinese officials are working behind the scenes to stabilise the situation.

Still, he adds, China tolerates North Korea's ploys as it fears the consequences of Kim's regime collapsing more than his behaviour on a regional scale.