They welcomed a press statement released Friday by the UN Security Council slamming North Korea for defying UN resolutions with a series of test-firings of submarine-launched and other ballistic missiles beginning in July, it said.
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The statement also noted that the members “expressed serious concern” about a series of other tests, six of which were carried out in April, May and June in “flagrant disregard of the repeated” Security Council statements.
China, a neighbor and ally of North Korea, had eitherblocked attempts by the United States and other councilmembers to condemn the three previous attacks when theyhappened, or insisted on unacceptable language.
Deploring all ballistic missile activities by North Korea, including the most recent launches, the Council noted that such activities contribute to the country’s development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tensions.
Earlier this month, the 15-member council had been unable to agree on a USA -drafted statement to condemn North Korea’s August 3 launch of a ballistic missile that landed in or near Japanese-controlled waters.
The Council’s members further regretted that North Korea is diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles while the country’s citizens have great unmet needs.
Despite the North’s successful test, the country faces significant technological challenges, including building a new class of submarine to carry the missile.
It urged all United Nations member states “to redouble their efforts” to implement sanctions against Pyongyang, including thetoughest measures in two decades imposed by the council inMarch.
The 15-member council had agreed last Friday to “continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures” against North Korea, just days after the SLBM launch.
Those sanctions reflected growing anger at Pyongyang’snuclear test in January and a subsequent rocket launch.
South Korea’s ruling party on Monday asked military authorities to review special countermeasures including deployment of a nuclear-powered submarine to contain North Korea’s submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM).
On August 24, media reported that Pyongyang had launched a ballistic missile from a submarine in the Sea of Japan.
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In Pyongyang, North Korean Foreign Ministry official Jon Min Dok told Associated Press Television News in an interview that the USA -led discussions at the U.N. were a “terrible provocation” and that the country is developing nuclear weapons because of “outrageous nuclear intimidation” by the United States. The United States says the system is defensive and meant to counter North Korea’s missile threat.
