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A10 WORLD NEWS
Monday 20 March 2017
North Korea tests newly developed high-thrust rocket engine
ERIC TALMADGE
Associated Press the engine is to be used for
TOKYO (AP) — North Ko- North Korea’s space and
rea has conducted a satellite-launching pro-
ground test of a new type gram.
of high-thrust rocket en- North Korea is banned by
gine that leader Kim Jong the United Nations from
Un is calling a revolutionary conducting long-range
breakthrough for the coun- missile tests, but it claims
try’s space program, the its satellite program is for
North’s state media said peaceful use, a claim
Sunday. many in the U.S. and else-
Kim attended Saturday’s where believe is question-
test at the Sohae launch able.
site, according to the Ko- North Korean officials have
rean Central News Agen- said that under a five-year
cy, which said the test was plan, they intend to launch
intended to confirm the more Earth observation
“new type” of engine’s satellites and what would
thrust power and gauge be the country’s first geo-
the reliability of its control stationary communications
system and structural safe- People watch a TV news program showing an image, published in North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun satellite — which would be
ty.Kim called the test “a newspaper, of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the country’s Sohae launch site, at Seoul Rail- a major technological ad-
great event of historic sig- way station in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, March 19, 2017. North Korea has conducted a ground vance.
nificance” for the country’s test of a new type of high-thrust rocket engine that leader Kim Jong Un is calling a revolutionary Getting that kind of satel-
breakthrough for the country’s space program.
indigenous rocket industry, (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) lite into place would likely
require a more powerful
the KCNA report said. the test marks what will be engine than its previous
He also said the “whole known as the “March 18 ones. The North also claims
world will soon witness revolution” in the develop- it is trying to build a viable
what eventful significance ment of the country’s rock- space program that would
the great victory won to- et industry. include a moon launch
day carries” and claimed The report indicated that within the next 10 years. q
Duterte:
Philippines can’t stop China moves in disputed sea
JIM GOMEZ shore area’s resources. borough Shoal and that it
Associated Press “We cannot stop China would refrain from com-
MANILA, Philippines (AP) from doing his thing, the menting while doing so.
— Philippine President Ro- Americans were not able In the past, the Philippine
drigo Duterte said Sunday to stop it,” Duterte said government routinely filed
that his militarily inferior in a news conference at protests or expressed its
country can’t stop China’s the airport in southern concern whenever China
actions in contested wa- Davao city before flying took aggressive actions
ters, responding to a re- to Myanmar.“Sir, what will I to assert its sovereignty in
ported plan by Beijing to do? Declare a war against contested territories, but
construct an environmen- China?” he asked, without Duterte did not mention
tal monitoring station in saying who he was address- any planned protest.
a disputed shoal off the ing his question to. “I can, The top official in Sansha
northwestern Philippines. but we’ll all lose our military City, which has adminis-
Duterte, however, warned and policemen tomorrow, tered China’s island claims
that he would invoke a July and we are a destroyed in the South China Sea
12 arbitration ruling that in- nation.”Duterte’s remarks since 2012, was quoted by
validated China’s territorial differed slightly from those the official Hainan Daily
claims in the South China of the Department of For- newspaper as saying that
Sea if the Chinese “start to eign Affairs, which said that preparations were under-
tinker with the entitlement,” it was trying to verify the way to build an environ-
apparently meaning when news reports about China’s mental monitoring station
Beijing starts to tap the off- construction plans on Scar- on Scarborough Shoal.q
