US President Barack Obama greets South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye after a joint news conference in the White House in Washington, May 7, 2013.
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North Korea test-fired three ballistic missiles into the sea on Monday as world powers gathered for a G20 meeting in China, with leader Kim Jong-Un hailing the tests as “perfect”.
In January, North Korea said it had successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb, its fourth nuclear test, and vowed to build up its nuclear program as deterrence against potential aggression from the United States and its regional allies.
“We do not have any interest in an offensive approach to North Korea”, he said.
The North carried out its latest launches Monday in defiance of the worldwide community, as United Nations resolutions bar the reclusive state from developing ballistic missile technology.
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 programme.
A US official who attended the G20 summit condemned North Korea’s actions for being a threat to both aircraft and maritime vessel operating in the zone.
A report from the North’s KCNA news agency revealed that the dictator demanded more “miraculous achievements in bolstering up the nuclear force”.
Power added that she didn’t anticipate disagreement in the Council since it was able to reach consensus on previous resolutions imposing sanctions on North Korea.
Monday’s missile launches were the latest in a series by North Korea this year in violation of Security Council resolutions that were supported by China banning ballistic missile-related activities by Pyongyang.
The U.S., Japan and South Korea made clear after the council meeting that they want further action, but also didn’t specify what.
The strategic artillery unit was “full of military might” to strike the United States and its forces with “annihilating nuclear fire shower”, it said.
Earlier, the envoys from Japan, South Korea and the United States appeared before the press together to slam North Korea’s missile program.
South Korea’s arms exports fell from US$3.6 billion (S$4.9 billion) in 2014 to US$3.4 billion past year.
South Korea’s defence ministry said the latest tests were of Rodong missiles with a range of 1,000 kilometres (620 miles).
The submarine-launched ballistic missile test was conducted in an apparent show of force toward the annual U.S.
North Korea is banned from importing or exporting nuclear or missile items and technology as well as luxury goods. Tokyo has protested to North Korea via the Japanese Embassy in Beijing, CBS 8 reported.
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Pyongyang has lately intensified strategic armaments tests: on August 24, a ballistic missile was sacked from a submarine in the presence of President Kim Jong-un.
