US calls for effective response to DPRK launch

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US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates holds a news conference at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. (AFP/Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla)

The United States has again expressed its concerns about the launch.

Robert Gates, US Defense Secretary, said, "In the area of missile defense we will restructure the programme to focus on the rogue state and theatre missile threat. We will not increase the number of current ground based interceptors in Alaska as had been planned. But we will continue to robustly fund continued research and development to improve the capability we already have to defend against long range rogue missile threats. A threat DPRK's missile launch last week reminds us is real."

At the request of Japan, the UN Security Council held an emergency session on Sunday to discuss the DPRK's rocket launch. It failed to release even a customary preliminary statement of condemnation.

At the end of the closed-door meeting, members of the 15-nation body agreed to continue consultations to take appropriate actions in response to the launch.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei