19/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - Ashton calls on Pyongyang not to launch satellite. “Deeply concerned” by the announcement by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea) about plans to carry out a satellite launch next month, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, speaking on Saturday 17 March, called on the country to confirm “as a matter of urgency” that it will refrain from the proposed launch and to resume work on mutual confidence building. “This launch would be contrary to DPRK's international obligations. It would also undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts to create an environment conducive for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks (North Korea, China, South Korea, United States, Russia and Japan) on the nuclear issue”, added Ashton's spokesman. North Korea announced on 16 March that it intended to launch a satellite in mid-April to mark the 100th anniversary of its former leader Kim Il Sung. (CG/transl.rt)