The statement was backed by all council members during an emergency closed-door meeting that was held to discuss the controversial rocket launch.
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The Security Council condemned Pyongyang’s latest “serious violation” of United Nations resolutions, Venezuela’s United Nations ambassador Rafael Dario Ramirez Carreno said.
The launch followed North Korea’s detonation of a nuclear device last month, putting new pressure on the United States and its threatened ally South Korea to take steps that could include deploying a missile defense capability that is firmly opposed by China.
“North Korea’s most famous and venerated TV newscaster, dressed in a traditional pink gown, proudly announced on the TV bulletin – reserved for extremely important events – that the Earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong-4 had been successfully put into orbit early Sunday morning”.
The U.N. Security Council hasn’t yet passed a resolution to condemn North Korea for its January 6 nuclear test – which was also “a slap in the face to the worldwide community”, Elise says.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the North’s actions “absolutely intolerable”.
The rocket launch is expected to help break the deadlock as China would find it hard to oppose tough measures any longer, analysts said.
A long-range rocket launch by North Korea has been condemned by New Zealand.
“North Korea’s actions continue to present a threat to regional and worldwide security”.
The government also said in a special announcement read on state-run North Korean TV said that it will launch more satellites.
“The fact that we’re seeing the launch and we’re seeing the launch from a nuclear North Korea is a result of the failures of the first Clinton administration” for loosening sanctions against the nation, Cruz said.
In a development that will worry both Pyongyang and Beijing, a senior South Korean Defense Ministry official, Yoo Jeh Seung, told reporters that Seoul and Washington have agreed to begin talks on a possible deployment of the THADD missile-defense system in South Korea.
China, which maintains close ties with North Korea, immediately responded, saying it was “deeply concerned” that deployment of a US anti-missile system in South Korea would only escalate tensions, the Chinese-run Xinhua News Agency said. Right after the launch, South Korea, the United States and Japan jointly requested an emergency council meeting.
A South Korean man watch breaking news on North Korea’s long-range rocket launch at Seoul Station.
China has the power to block with its veto power any resolution that would contain such measures as barring North Korean ships from ports or restricting oil deliveries.
North Korea is believed to be working on miniaturising a nuclear warhead to mount on a missile, but many experts say it is some time away from perfecting such technology.
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While infuriated by North Korea’s refusal to curb its nuclear ambitions, China’s overriding concern is avoiding a collapse of the regime in Pyongyang and the possibility of a US-allied unified Korea on its border. Of the six resolutions, four included sanctions on the isolated nation.
