North Korea on Monday test-fired three ballistic missiles from Hwangju in North Hwanghae province at around 12.14 p.m.
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The missiles likely landed in the sea 200 to 250 km (120-160 miles) west of Hokkaido, Japan’snorthern-most main island, sources at Japan’s defense ministry said Monday.
A U.N statement released after the missile launch said: “The members of the Security Council deplore all Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ballistic missile activities, including these launches”. Park also said “considering that China’s role is important in effectively implementing sanctions against the North and resolving its nuclear problem, South Korea and the USA agreed to continue communication with China through various channels”.
“The Security Council must remain unequivocal and united in the condemnation of these tests and we must take action to enforce the words we put on paper, to enforce our resolutions”, said USA ambassador to the UN Samantha Power.
“The Security Council must remain unequivocal and united in its condemnation of these tests”.
Speaking alongside Power, South Korean ambassador Hahn Choong-hee also called on the worldwide community to send a message that if the North Koreans continue their behavior, “they will face much stronger and insurmountable and significant counter measures from the global community”.
North Korea has been under United Nations sanctions since 2006. China disapproves of the North’s missile and nuclear programmes and backed the Security Council resolutions in March. After meeting with South Korean President Park Geun Hye, Obama said the countries would work to increase the efficacy of the sanctions by closing loopholes. Regarding the plan to station a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on the peninsula, Obama stressed that “it is a purely defensive measure, stressing that Washington’s commitment to the defense of South Korea is unwavering”.
The three missiles were the “Rodong” type with a medium-range and able to fly about 1,000 kilometers, informed the South Korean army.
But the UN Security Council said it regretted that Pyongyang was “diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles while. citizens have great unmet needs”.
The July decision to deploy the THAAD anti-ballistic missile system continues to be met with opposition from China, because of THAAD radar’s monitoring capabilities.
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Speaking for Japan, Bessho added, “We think that it is necessary for us to think about what additional actions the council can take in unanimity, in unity in bringing about a change in the North Korean behavior”. “We continue to indicate to them the importance of tightening up”.
