W.H.: There will be consequences for North Korea

White House press secretary Jay Carney promised Wednesday that North Korea will face consequences after it launched a rocket and placed what it called a satellite into orbit.

Carney declined to detail what actions will be taken but said North Korea will likely face further isolation.

Echoing an earlier statement by the National Security Council, he said said the launch was a "regrettable" act and "flagrant violation" of United Nations Security Council resolutions requiring North Korea to cease rocket launches as well as any nuclear programs. He said there had been a path for North Korea to emerge from isolation - by abiding with those resolutions.

"It has chosen not to, and therefore there will be consequences for that," Carney said.

He noted that the Security Council was meeting on Wednesday and that the council would decide on next steps. Carney said that since President Obama took office, the administration has worked to build a large, international coalition, including with Russia and China, that would cooperate to pressure North Korea to refrain from further "provocative" acts.

"We will continue to work with our international partners to ensure [North Korea] …is further isolated," he said. "The specifics behind those further steps will await action in New York."


Donovan Slack
Byron Tau

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12/12/12 6:41 AM EST


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