North Korea has lambasted a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) statement that slammed Pyongyang for its latest missile tests, pledging to bolster its nuclear program in response. The program, being installed in South Korea, is a USA anti-ballistic missile system created to shoot down North Korean missiles.
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China, North Korea’s northern neighbor and closest ally, has always been resistant to tough action against the Kim regime. The Chinese have protested that move, which USA officials insist is only meant to protect South Korea.
“All three were launched nearly simultaneously and fell around the same spot, which shows North Korea’s missile capability has been steadily improving”, Inada said, expressing serious concern.
Choe is deputy director-general of the North Korean foreign ministry’s USA affairs bureau, according to South Korea.
The Security Council members also condemned the Pyongyang administration, led by Kim Jong-un, for diverting all its resources “to the pursuit of ballistic missiles”, ignoring the requirements and “great unmet needs” of its own citizens.
Lewis said the launch of the missiles, which landed in the sea off Japan, demonstrated North Korea’s increasing prowess at missile manufacturing.
The launches came as world leaders gathered in neighbouring China for the Group of 20 summit, sparking condemnation from Japan and the United States, which blasted them as “reckless”.
The North’s top newspaper Rodong Sinmun carried nine photos of the test, including one of a beaming Mr Kim standing in front of a map surrounded by smiling officials.
The March sanctions, among other things, also require mandatory inspections of cargo leaving and entering North Korea by land, sea or air; a ban on all sales or transfers of small arms and light weapons to Pyongyang; and expulsion of diplomats from the North who engage in “illicit activities”.
Kim described the August test as the “greatest success” and said it put the USA mainland within striking range.
The US and its regional allies, South Korea and Japan – those most immediately threatened by Pyongyang’s military capabilities – are particularly keen to see China enforcing sanctions more robustly. In contrast, China says mishandling the recent missile launches affects stability in the region and could intensify disputes, referring to the new anti-missile system installed in South Korea by the United States.
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Asked whether China agreed more significant measures needed to be taken, permanent British representative to the United Nations, Matthew Rycroft, said: “We’re talking to all of our council colleagues”.
