The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's latest plan to launch a satellite would harm its fragile mutual trust with Washington, while the move is more likely due to domestic political concerns, experts said on Sunday. Pyongyang's action will harm DPRK-US ties, which were just getting better, said Huang Youfu, director of the Institute of Korean Studies at Minzu University of China. "It would lead to a new round of sanctions against the country and Pyongyang may be isolated again," said Huang. The move by the DPRK's new leadership coincides with the 100th anniversary of the birth of its founder Kim Il-sung, Huang said, adding that it ignored the negative reaction from the international community. Wang Junsheng, an expert on Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, agreed with Huang, saying that the Pyongyang's action was more likely a result of domestic political requirements and would worsen its ties with Washington and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. The United States would by no means allow itself to be pressured by other countries, and it would surely take measures, but there may not be more sanctions, because the desire for animprovement in ties between the two countries was strong, Wang said. The launch of the satellite was the legitimate right of the DPRK, said the Korean Central News Agency, reiterating that the launch was for scientific research and economic development. |