North Korea’s rally in celebration of its successful rocket launch last Wednesday indicated the nation’s “saving face” in the midst of a similar attempt to put a weather satellite on orbit in April, which failed due to technical failure. The United States, Japan and South Korea condemned the launch, claiming it to be a demonstration of military strength and the capability of North Korea to launch a rocket at its will.

Governments worldwide are growing worried over the technological developments in North Korea, where nuclear technology is clearly developed. The launch clearly defies the 2009 U.N. restriction of missile testing against North Korea in 2006 and 2009, years in which the country launched its prototype nuclear missiles.

The Japanese government states that it shows North Korea’s ability to attack even the most distant Japanese Islands with their new rocket. Anti-North Korean protests in South Korea wer held in city squares, all in defiance of the nuclear research and technological development that North Korea had developed for state superiority.

The rocket’s parts scattered as it went through its stages to bring the satellite to orbit. Parts landed in the Yellow Sea west of the Korean Peninsula and the Pacific Ocean. Japan also said that it flew over Japanese islands during its launch. The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, confirmed the satellites placement into orbit.

The launch also coincides with the events that marked the death of Kim Jong Il on Dec 17 and is clearly the most prominent success of of his governing son Kim Jong Un.

Source: Time

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The Violation Documenting Center, a group that makes documentation of all the casualties of the ceasefire between the Syrian government and the rebels, has tallied that at least 407 people were killed during the celebration of Eid holiday up to Wednesday. The total number of death upon the over a year civil war has now reached 32,013.

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al Thani stated that the Syrian regime is waging a “ war of extermination” even against Syrian civilians. The Qatar president also blamed the UN for just “idling” while the Syrian government killed hundreds during the four-day ceasefire.

UN-Arab League Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi was the one who proposed the ceasefire for Eid, which started on Friday and ended on Monday. However, it became evident to many Arab countries that the ceasefire was never fully observed. Qatar’s Prime Minister pointed out that Syria did comply with the truce with a special condition, that it would respond to “anything that took place on the ground”.

Brahimi recently met with Chinese and Russian officials to discuss solutions about the Syrian civil war. China has declared its support to Brahimi’s idea of having a political solution to the entire situation. China and Russia are well-known opponents who have vetoed more than once stronger actions proposed by the UN Security Council.

Source: CNN