The nation’s chief nuclear envoy Wi Sung-lak says North Korea’s long-distance launch capability itself is an issue.

Returning from Washington, Wi told reporters that, whether the playload of Pyongyang’s planned rocket launch is a satellite or a missile, its move towards having capability to deliver weapons of mass desctruction is raising a security concern.

He went on to say that, if North Korea goes ahead with the launch despite opposition from the international community, countermeasures are inevitable. He added it is too early to talk about the level of countermeasures.

On possible sanctions when North Korea fires a rocket, Wi said Seoul, Washington and Tokyo would decide their own sanctions.