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North Korea reaffirms long-range rocket launch in statement against South

North Korea said it has a sovereign right to conduct scientific research, as well as to manufacture and launch space satellites.

By Elizabeth Shim
A North Korean soldier stands watch on the North Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone seen from Panmunjom, South Korea. North Korea said in a statement Monday that the South is "acting up" in order to realize its "impure ambition of stifling North Korea," a reference to Pyongyang's planned satellite launches. File Photo by Spike Call/US Navy
A North Korean soldier stands watch on the North Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone seen from Panmunjom, South Korea. North Korea said in a statement Monday that the South is "acting up" in order to realize its "impure ambition of stifling North Korea," a reference to Pyongyang's planned satellite launches. File Photo by Spike Call/US Navy | License Photo

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- North Korea slammed Seoul and Washington for "spreading conspiracy theories" of a provocation in October and reaffirmed on Monday its intention to launch a long-range rocket.

Pyongyang's state newspaper Rodong Sinmun said, "South Korean authorities in collusion with the United States have spread conspiracy theories of a provocation in October, in order to pull the brakes on the powerful progress of our military and people ahead of a big celebration," Yonhap reported.

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North Korea said in its statement that the South is "acting up" in order to realize its "impure ambition of stifling North Korea."

"Our satellite launches and nuclear deterrence are within the rights of our national sovereignty, a legitimate right that no one can infringe upon," Pyongyang said.

Without mentioning South Korean President Park Geun-hye by name, North Korea said the "person in power in South Korea is saying there is a 'cost to provocations,' while rolling up [her] sleeves in cooperation with foreign powers in building pressure against North Korea."

Bloomberg reported Friday that Park had said, "There will certainly be a price to be paid" should North Korea take actions that violate U.N. Security Council resolutions.

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Pyongyang also took aim at the eighth annual Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Alliance, or KIDD conference held last week, saying South Korea was choosing the path of collapse by collaborating with "foreign powers," and interfering with North-South rapprochement by taking issue with Pyongyang's nuclear program, its human rights record and allegedly insisting on a one-system unification policy.

In a separate statement on Monday, Pyongyang reaffirmed its intention to launch a long-range rocket, South Korean television network SBS reported.

Pyongyang Broadcasting Station said North Korea had a sovereign right to conduct scientific research, as well as to manufacture and launch space satellites.

"The provocations of the South Korean authorities will not be tolerated," North Korea said.

North Korea website DPRK Today said scientists and engineers were accelerating their projects on observation satellites, ahead of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party on Oct. 10.

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