UNSC to meet on N. Korea’s missile launch over Japan

August 29, 2017

NEW YORK- The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday afternoon after North Korea fired a ballistic missile over the northernmost Japan prefecture of Hokkaido the same day.

Members will discuss how they should respond to the reclusive nation's latest provocative action carried out in violation of past Security Council sanctions resolutions against Pyongyang. The emergency meeting comes at the request of Japan, the United States and South Korea.

The Japanese government plans to call for the strengthening of pressure on North Korea, in cooperation with the United States and other allies.

Tokyo is extremely concerned about the missile launch over Japan without warning, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe describing the move as an "unprecedentedly serious and grave threat." The missile fell into the Pacific after flying over the Oshima Peninsula in the southwestern part of Hokkaido.

At the UNSC meeting, some member countries may seek further sanctions.

But participants are unlikely to start discussions soon on additional measures against North Korea, because the powerful UN organ adopted a resolution featuring tighter sanctions only on Aug. 5 following the country's launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles in July, informed sources said.

Moreover, China and Russia are expected to oppose additional sanctions because the missile launched on Tuesday was not an ICBM and Pyongyang's latest action did not involve a nuclear test.

International sanctions on North Korea have already been powerful, after a total of eight relevant UNSC resolutions were adopted in 2006 and later. Jiji Press