“The members of the Security Council agreed that the Security Council would continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures in line with the Council’s previously expressed determination, “the statement read”.
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The exact same wording, incorporating a pledge to “take further significant measures”, appeared in the last three such statements, on August 26, Jun. 23 and Jun. 1, as well as in an earlier one, issued on April 15.
The ministry praised what it saw as “an expression of unified determination” from the UNSC, given the required consent of China and Russian Federation.
Yang Uk, a South Korean defense and security expert, said Monday’s missile test appeared aimed in part to show that the North is capable of firing off multiple projectiles from mobile launchers, which are harder to detect in advance.
“There were very strong and numerous voices in the room for doing more”, she said.
A senior diplomat from North Korea involved in stalled global talks to end its nuclear programme has visited China, a South Korea news agency said on Wednesday, as China endorsed a fresh rebuke of the North by the United Nations (UN).
Pyongyang has conducted a fourth nuclear test and a series of missile tests this year in defiance of United Nations sanctions, prompting South Korea to announce plans to deploy a U.S. anti-missile system to counter such threats.
In early August, China’s position on the deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in South Korea delayed a press statement, according to a United Nations official who spoke anonymously to Yonhap.
“The members of the Security Council further regretted that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles while DPRK citizens have great unmet needs”, it said, using North Korea’s official name.
U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power, South Korean ambassador Hahn Choong Hee and Japanese Ambassador Koro Bessho discuss North Korea’s actions.
A missile is launched during a drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea.
US and South Korean Presidents, Barack Obama and Parke Guen-hye also met Monday on the sidelines of ASEAN related summits in Vientiane, Laos.
China has adopted a balance between supporting sanctions against the North while maintaining cooperation with its traditional ally in recent months.
According to South Korea’s military, the missiles were fired from areas around Hwangju county, in North Hwanghae province, toward the Sea of Japan. The statement that was eventually released did not include the language.
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Meanwhile, the United States and South Korea – perceived as enemies by Pyongyang – stressed the importance of Beijing’s role in pressuring Pyongyang.
