The launch was widely condemned by the United States and other major powers, but analysts saw it as a clear step forward for North Korea’s nuclear strike ambitions. Those sanctions reflected growing anger at Pyongyang’s nuclear test in January and a subsequent rocket launch. In addition to the summit being held nearby in China, the launches occurred three days after the USA and South Korea concluded annual war games and ahead of Friday’s 68th anniversary of the north’s own founding.
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In a statement after a closed-door meeting, the United Nations body said such activities contribute to North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension.
The launch was widely condemned by the USA and other major powers, but analysts saw it as a clear step forward for North Korea’s nuclear strike ambitions.
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.
President Obama, left, and South Korean President Park Geun-hye shake hands after speaking to the media at the conclusion of a bilateral meeting in Vientiane, Laos, on September 6, 2016.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council in an emergency meeting on Tuesday discussed a response to the latest missile launch.
The South’s President Park Geun-hye held talks with American counterpart Barack Obama in Laos on the eve of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit – the first meeting between the leaders since Seoul and Washington announced in July that they would deploy a contentious anti-missile system against the wishes of both North Korea and China. The U.S. has no interest in an “offensive approach” to North Korea, he said.
He stressed, however, that dialogue was still possible if North Korea changes course to recognize its global obligations and enforce the denuclearization of the divided peninsula.
Obama said the latest round of ballistic missile launches were “provocations” that flouted global law and would only lead to further isolation.
In early August, North Korea also fired Rodong missiles which traveled about 620 miles, the longest ever flight by that kind of missile.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Monday called for continued nuclear weapons development after watching three ballistic missiles being fired into the East Sea.
The North’s top newspaper Rodong Sinmun carried nine photos of the test, including one of a beaming Kim standing in front of a map surrounded by smiling officials.
Mr Kim Jong Un has labelled North Korea’s latest missile tests “perfect”, according to state media, as he called for the isolated state to build up its nuclear arsenal.
North Korea has been under United Nations sanctions since 2006.
The UN Security Council on Tuesday condemned the recent ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
“North Korea needs to know that provocations will only invite more pressure and further deepen its isolation”, he told reporters after meeting Park in Vientiane. But he didn’t mention any further council action.
“There were very strong and numerous voices in the room for doing more”, she said. “Without getting ahead of the council, we were also interested in increasing the consequences after this pattern of using these launches to advance the capabilities of the program”.
North Korea is banned from importing or exporting nuclear or missile items and technology as well as luxury goods and the March resolution expanded the list of banned items.
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As North Korea is tweaking the design of its Nodong/Rodong missile, it has also expanded its capability to deliver weapons at long range.
