The UN Security Council on Tuesday managed to promptly condemn North Korea’s latest test of ballistic missiles, propelled by China’s endorsement despite its opposition to the plan to deploy US anti-missile assets in South Korea.
The 15-member body issued a press statement from New York, “deploring” Monday’s launch that marked its 22nd missile experiment this year alone and was “in flagrant disregard” of multiple UNSC resolutions.
The projectiles, presumed to be the intermediate-range Rodong, flew some 1,000 kilometers before landing near Japan, South Korea’s military said.
US Ambassador Samantha Power (center) speaks to the press next to South Korean Ambassador Hahn Choong-hee (right) and Japanese Ambassador Koro Bessho, following the United Nations Security Council’s closed-door meeting to discuss the latest missile launches by North Korea at the United Nations in Manhattan, New York, Tuesday. (Yonhap)
The UNSC threatened “further significant measures” should Pyongyang continue provocations in defiance of UNSC resolutions, but did not elaborate.
“The members of the Security Council further regretted that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles while DPRK citizens have great unmet needs,” it said, using North Korea’s official name.
“(We) called upon all member states to redouble their efforts to implement fully the measures imposed (on the country).”
The document came hours after a closed-door emergency meeting called by Seoul, Washington and Tokyo.
When the three launched efforts in response to the North’s Aug. 3 test fire, China cast a blight by insisting on together addressing the South Korea-US decision to station a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery here, which it argues could be directed at it.
But this time China offered consent to the newest proposal relatively smoothly, Seoul officials said.
Beijing has displayed discontent over the launch, as it took place merely three hours after President Xi Jinping wrapped up one-on-one talks with South Korean President Park Geun-hye on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Hangzhou.
Mindful of the THAAD tension, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry took note of the participation of China and Russia, “welcoming” the swift condemnation and highlighting the need for a thorough enforcement of related international sanctions.
“The press statement, in which both China and Russia have joined, has significance in sending a strong warning against North Korea’s unbridled missile provocations in violation of UNSC resolutions, while expressing the UNSC’s united resolve to change the North’s mistaken calculations through a faithful implementation of the resolutions,” the ministry said in a statement.
This is the ninth statement released by the UNSC against North Korea’s provocations this year.
By Shin Hyon-hee (
heeshin@heraldcorp.com)
