Russia offers to launch N. Korean satellites

Russia is interested in hosting the launch of North Korean satellites whose sendoff has alienated the international community from Pyongyang. "I hope this proposal will be studied," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted by Interfax as saying in the South Korean capital of Seoul on Friday, Reuters reported. "Such cooperation is carried out with the Republic of Korea, we are ready to carry out similar projects with North Korea," he added. Last month, North Korea attempted at a satellite launch reportedly using the ballistic missile-design Taepodong-2 rocket. The move defied a United Nations Security Council ban which was prompted by the country's first test-firing of ballistic missiles in 2006. The firing also sidestepped the US warnings that the launch pursued military objectives amid reports that the rocket was capable of reaching Alaska and Hawaii. The US and North Korea had started a number of military maneuvers as a precaution and, close to the launch, the US Navy seconded two of its warships to a joint patrol in the Sea of Japan with Japanese and North Korean armadas. "I hope no one will artificially try to rock the boat, moreover, to use it as a pretext for unleashing an arms race in the region, creating military blocs and stepping up missile defense plans," added the foreign minister. Lavrov is on the trip aimed at inviting the country back into the nuclear disarmament talks. Earlier in the month, North Korea vowed to boycott the talks promising to reactivate one of its nuclear power plants that produce weapons-grade plutonium in an apparent reaction to the international condemnation of the satellite launch. Despite Moscow's intervention, Lavrov said, "North Korea is not ready to resume the six-party talks, but Russia hopes that our call to do this in Pyongyang has been heard."