The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday strongly condemned the North Korean launches and threatened “further significant measures” if it refuses to stop its nuclear and missile tests.
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“The members of the Security Council stress the importance of working to reduce tensions in the Korean Peninsula and beyond”, it said. Those sanctions reflected growing anger at Pyongyang’s nuclear test in January and a subsequent rocket launch.
On September 5, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired three ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan.
The White House noted the USA remains committed to moving ahead with the planned deployment of a major anti-missile system in South Korea.
The launches came after past failures and a test, two weeks ago, of a submarine-launched missile which also entered Japan’s defense zone.
Members of the Security Council including China were quick to denounce the missile tests that took place while Beijing was hosting the G20 meeting in Hangzhou, Yonhap reported.
Obama said the USA will also increase efforts to stop North Korea gaining access to global currency and technology by tightening loopholes in the current sanctions regime.
“North Korea’s advancement of nuclear and missile capability, if unchecked, will continue to pose a serious threat to regional peace and security as well as the nonproliferation regime”, he said.
Hahn Choong-hee, ambassador and deputy permanent representative of South Korea to the United Nations, said the missile launches were posing a serious threat to the region.
Exhibitors also staged a live-fire show at a shooting range outside Pocheon city near the border with North Korea to display their artillery, mechanised infantry fighting vehicles and missiles. If confirmed, such a warhead would provide North Korean forces with a greater capability to thwart American missile defense systems set to be deployed to South Korea.
“The members of the Security Council deplore all Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ballistic missile activities, including these launches, noting that such activities contribute to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension”, the United Nations said in a statement.
The UN’s most powerful body agreed to the tough statement hours after a closed-door emergency meeting Tuesday to discuss the three launches which landed near Japan.
Bessho said Japan wants the council to consider further actions it can take “in unanimity, in unity, in bringing about change in North Korea’s behavior”.
What action the council takes remains to be seen and a lot depends on China, the North’s neighbor and only major ally, though ties have frayed over the nuclear and missile tests and what many outsiders see as other provocations in recent years. But he didn’t mention any further council action.
“There were very strong and numerous voices in the room for doing more”, she said.
“With each test, each violation of UN Security Council resolutions – and there have been 22 of them so far this year – the DPRK demonstrates further advancement of its ballistic program”, USA envoy Samantha Power said.
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In short, the North Korean missile program continues its steady march forward, and Washington may be powerless to prevent it.
