China voices concern at North Korea artillery launch
Iran Press TV
Thu Mar 6, 2014 10:3AM GMT
China has expressed concern after North Korea staged an artillery launch minutes before a Chinese commercial plane carrying 202 people flew in the same area.
On Thursday, South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok called it a "serious threat" that Pyongyang failed to notify international aviation authorities of its launch plans in the area on March 4.
Chinese foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said, "I want to stress we attach high importance to the security of national civil airlines."
Countries should take "necessary measures" when carrying out military drills "to ensure the security and safety of civil ships and aircraft," the foreign ministry official said.
"Without any doubt, China will verify the relevant situation with the relevant party and express necessary concerns over that."
The China Southern Airlines plane was traveling from the Japanese capital, Tokyo, to Shenyang, northeast China.
A spokesman for the airline, who declined to give his name, told AFP, "I assume there was no impact, otherwise we should all know."
North Korea also test launched four short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan on February 27.
South Korea denounced the move as a "provocative act" timed to coincide with the annual US-South Korea joint military exercise.
"With the exercises underway, we see the firings as a calculated, provocative act," Kim said on February 28.
HN/HSN
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