UN Security Council condemns North Korea’s missile launch over Japan

North Korea’s firing of a ballistic missile over Japan has been unanimously condemned by the United Nations Security Council which described the move as an “outrageous” threat and demanded that Pyongyang not launch any more missiles.

Rising from a meeting, the 15-member Security Council in a statement said it was of “vital importance” that North Korea take immediate, concrete actions to reduce tensions.

The Security Council also called on North Korea to abandon all nuclear weapons and programmes, urging all states to implement United Nations sanctions on Pyongyang while also expressing “its commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution”.

Read also: After US peace overture, North Korean leader orders production of more missiles

“The Security Council stresses that these DPRK [North Korean] actions are not just a threat to the region, but to all UN member states,” said the statement, issued after closed-door talks at UN headquarters.

“The Security Council expresses its grave concern that the DPRK is, by conducting such a launch over Japan as well as its recent actions and public statements, deliberately undermining regional peace and stability.”

Yesterday, North Korea fired a ballistic missile that flew over Japan before plunging into the northern Pacific Ocean, in a move described by Japanese prime minister as a “grave threat”.

According to reports, the missile launch appears to be the first to cross over Japan since 2009, and comes amid ongoing annual military drill being carried out between the US and its close ally in the region, South Korea.

 

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