UNSC slams North Korea’s missile launch as “outrageousˮ

August 30, 2017

NEW YORK- The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Tuesday a presidential statement strongly condemning North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile that flew over Japan earlier in the day, saying the act was "outrageous."

China and Russia, with close ties with North Korea, supported the new statement, which also slammed the reclusive state's ballistic missile launches on Saturday.

So far, the Security Council has responded to a North Korean ballistic missile launch mainly by issuing a press statement denouncing the act.

This time, however, the powerful UN organ swiftly adopted the presidential statement, stronger than a press statement, in order to show the international community its united stance of not tolerating North Korea's provocations.

In a speech after the statement's adoption, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said her country will not tolerate the continuation of illegal acts by North Korea.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Liu Jieyi asked officials from other countries to refrain from remarks that may increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The Security Council adopted the statement at an emergency meeting held at the request of Japan, the United States and South Korea following the missile launch.

At the meeting, Japan asked for the adoption of a new Security Council sanctions resolution against North Korea, as the country takes seriously the launch of the missile over Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido.

The request was supported by countries including the United States, according to Japanese Ambassador to the United Nations Koro Bessho.

Although the day's discussions did not go into specifics of the proposed resolution, Japan hopes to get such a resolution adopted at an early date in cooperation with the United States and South Korea in order to add pressure on North Korea, officials said.

Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia was cautious about imposing additional sanctions in a speech given after the statement's adoption, questioning the effectiveness of such sanctions.

Discussions about additional sanctions are unlikely to go smoothly, as China and Russia appear reluctant at a time when North Korea has not conducted a new nuclear test or a test-launch of a long-range ballistic missile.

The latest presidential statement did not touch on additional sanctions, while past press statements on North Korea mentioned such measures.

In the new statement, the Security Council condemns North Korea for its "outrageous actions" and demands that the country "immediately cease all such actions." Pyongyang's actions are "not just a threat to the region, but to all UN member states," the statement noted.

It also said North Korea's recent actions and public statements were "undermining regional peace and stability and have caused grave security concerns around the world." Jiji Press