North Korean rocket launch will not affect Taiwan: Defense Ministry

ROC Central News Agency

2012/04/10 22:13:25

Taipei, April 10 (CNA) A planned launch by North Korea of a research satellite set to take place between April 12 and April 16 is not expected to affect Taiwan, the Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday, although it added that it is preparing for any contingency.

The National Defense University has set up a route map so that the military can forecast where the rocket might fall. According to the map, some of the debris might fall into the ocean to the east of Taiwan.

Rear Adm. Chen Bao-feng, commandant of the university's Naval Command and Staff College, said the route map is based on published reports and that if the launch proceeds smoothly, the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite will be put into orbit on the published route.

University officials said the school has staged a simulation showing that the debris will not affect the country.

Some media had reported that the rocket will not travel through Taiwan's airspace and will have a minimal influence on the country.

Nonetheless, to prevent any risk of an incident such as wreckage falling on Taiwan, the ministry has stepped up its monitoring activities and is preparing for any eventuality.

It noted that all routine military operations were proceeding according to schedule and were unaffected by the North Korean move.

(By Chen Pei-huang and S.C. Chang)
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