UN Security Council slams missile test

All 15 members condemn threat

NEW YORK: The UN Security Council on Tuesday strongly condemned North Korea’s firing of a ballistic missile over Japan as an “outrageous” threat, demanding Pyongyang conduct no more such launches or nuclear tests.

The 15-member council unanimously adopted a presidential statement during an emergency meeting convened at the request of Japan, the US and South Korea in response to North Korea’s latest act in a slew of provocations that have destabilised Northeast Asia.

“The Security Council expresses its grave concern that North Korea is, by conducting such a launch over Japan as well as its recent actions and public statements, deliberately undermining regional peace and stability,” the statement said. It urged North Korea to “immediately cease all such actions”.

The statement calls on all UN member states to fully implement UN sanctions on Pyongyang, including the Aug 5 package that aims to cut North Korea’s US$3 billion (100 million baht) annual export revenue by a third. But it does not refer to additional sanctions on the country such as an oil embargo.

“We are all denouncing North Korea’s outrageous act against another UN member state, Japan,” said US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. “All 15 members of the Security Council have spoken in unison.”

The launch of what North Korea said was a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile was the first over Japan’s main islands since 2009.

It followed North Korea’s test-firing of three short-range ballistic missiles Saturday and its launch of two intercontinental ballistic missiles in July — all in violation of Security Council resolutions banning it from engaging in nuclear and missile activities.

Welcoming the swift adoption of the statement, Japanese Ambassador Koro Bessho said, “This demonstrates the unity of the Security Council and sends a strong and clear message to North Korea that the international community will not accept its reckless behaviour.”

“We urge North Korea to respond immediately to this call by the international community,” Mr Bessho said. “Japan will continue to work very closely with council members and all other member states to reach a comprehensive solution to the problems related to North Korea.”

Ms Haley warned the US will not allow North Korea’s “lawlessness to continue”, and that the world is united against Pyongyang. “It is time for the North Korean regime to recognise the danger they are putting themselves in,” she said.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi said Beijing opposes ballistic missile launches by Pyongyang and urged all relevant parties to “exercise restraint, avoid mutual provocative actions that might exacerbate the regional situation, and work together to safeguard peace and stability.”

Mr Liu and Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia repeated a Beijing-Moscow proposal that Washington and Seoul halt their joint military exercises in exchange for Pyongyang suspending its weapons programmes.

“We object to North Korea’s missile launches, however as we repeatedly noted addressing the issues plaguing the peninsula through sanctions and pressure alone is impossible,” Mr Nebenzia said. “There can be no military solution to the issues plaguing the Korean Peninsula.”

During talks on Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump agreed that North Korea’s provocations have made it clear now is not the time for dialogue with Pyongyang, said a senior Japanese official.