North Korea attempted to put a military reconnaissance satellite into orbit on May 27, but said the rocket exploded. It was its second attempt after one last November.

This latest case was not only in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions banning Pyongyang from using ballistic missile technology, but also an outrage against efforts to preserve peace and stability in East Asia.

We strongly urge North Korea to forgo all future liftoffs.

Japan received advance word from the North about its latest launch, just hours before the start of the first Japan-China-South Korea summit in four and a half years.

Given the timing, we cannot rule out the possibility that Pyongyang’s purpose was to stop the three nations from getting too cozy by exposing the fact that China takes a different view from the other two in their respective positions on North Korea’s nuclear and missile........

© The Asahi Shimbun