The accusation comes from Leon Panetta, U.S. Defense Secretary: "I can not say more, but there's no doubt about it." Meanwhile, Pyongyang prepare a new test and Seoul shows the world two missiles capable of hitting "anything" in North Korea.

Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Chinese government provided technical assistance to North Korea to prepare for the (failed) launch of the Unha-3, the second long-range missile that Pyongyang says is part of a space program and for rest of the world was "a provocation". This according to U.S. Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, speaking before a hearing of the U.S. Congress.

"There is no doubt about it - the former head of the CIA unequivocally stated - the support was there. I can not be more precise on the details, but that is how things went." Panetta also said he did "not understand" the position of Beijing: "China ought to be urging them to engage in those kinds of ... diplomatic negotiations. We thought we were making some progress and suddenly we're back at provocation".

On 29 February, after intense diplomatic activity by the Chinese, the Korean regime and Washington just signed an agreement that China would limit Pyongyang's military development in exchange for resumed sending humanitarian aid. The aid was stopped in 2009 after the first nuclear test carried by the regime.

However, the launch of the missile - which crashed after a few minutes of flight - has broken the agreement. According to North Korea, " the pact with the United States is broken. We can not tolerate their vetoes on the UN Security Council, we have the right to carry on our space program."

At the moment the situation is quite tense. Yesterday, the South Korean government presented two missiles able to hit "any target" in the north of the peninsula, while Pyongyang has announced it is "ready" for a new test missile.

 

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• china
• US
• missile
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• pact
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• pyongyang
• UN
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• council