Critics of Seoul and Washington’s decision to deploy America’s most advanced missile-defense system to South Korea are pointing to North Korea’s latest submarine-launched ballistic-missile (SLBM) test as retaliation.
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In a press statement approved by the 15 members, the council denounced the North’s ballistic missile activities as fueling tensions and called them “grave violations” of the ban on missile activity.
SEOUL-North Korea is making progress on a submarine-launched ballistic missile system but any deployment of the technology is years away, a USA think tank said, as the UN Security Council promised action over Pyongyang’s latest test.
A previous bid by the council to condemn North Korea for firing a ballistic missile directly into Japanese-controlled waters on August 2 ran aground after China sought changes to the text.
The 14 members of the UN Security Council, including China, have strongly condemned North Korea for test-firing ballistic missiles. The UNSC condemned this action. With the latest launch, all of South Korea and parts of Japan are brought under striking distance for Pyongyang.
The council condemned that launch as well as another on August 2 that for the first time fell in Japanese controlled-waters and two other missile tests on July 9 and 18, saying these were all “in grave violation” of United Nations resolutions.
Earlier this month, China – Pyongyang’s closest ally – said that since the USA agreed to equip South Korea with the unique defense system, the North’s missile tests have expanded and are poised to increase.
However, Friday’s statement did not include such language.
Jon spoke just before the Security Council concluded the discussions with a statement. He said it showed North Korea’s “great power and inexhaustible strength in the face of the trials of history and the challenges of our enemies”.
“The best way for the U.S.to escape a deadly strike from us is by refraining from insulting our dignity and threatening our security, by exercising prudence and self-control”, Jon told AP.
On Wednesday, media reports emerged that Pyongyang had launched a ballistic missile from a submarine in the Sea of Japan.
The United States is deeply concerned about the human rights situation in North Korea and the country’s nuclear and missile programs, the White House said Friday, local time.
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According the South Korean military, this is the longest flight by the missile of the kind for North Korea.
