North Korea fired three ballistic missiles off its east coast Monday, a launch that was widely viewed as a show of force timed to get the attention of world leaders visiting the region for a series of summits. The 15-member Security Council toughened the sanctions in March in response to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test in January and the launch of a long-range rocket in February.
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Power, who spoke along with her Japanese and South Korean counterparts, refrained from elaborating on what further action the Security Council could take.
In the wake of another missile launch, President Barack Obama vowed Tuesday to work with the United Nations to tighten sanctions against North Korea, but added that the US was still open to dialogue if the government changes course. But despite the global chorus of disapproval and tough sanctions, Pyongyang is unrepentant – continuing to ignore the worldwide community’s calls for a halt to its weapons program.
Mr. Obama also said the US has an “unwavering” commitment to a missile-defense system for South Korea to deter the threat of North Korea and that bolstering the sanctions would involve closing loopholes in existing sanctions. This once again showed the North’s “blatant disregard” for United Nations sanctions and its worldwide obligations “and its willingness to provoke and to threaten the global community with impunity”, she said.
Despite the heavy sanctions, North Korea says the programs are justified because of the threat posed by the US and South Korea.
Ms Park told reporters North Korea’s move was “fundamentally threatening the security” of the Korean Peninsula.
In late August, the UN Security Council strongly condemned four North Korean ballistic missile launches in July and August.
North Korea has been under United Nations sanctions since 2006.
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.
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Power said “there were very strong and numerous voices in the room for doing more” than another condemnation. It requires countries to freeze the assets of companies linked to the North’s nuclear and missile programs.
