UN condemns North Korea missile launches

PanARMENIAN.Net - The UN Security Council late on Friday, August 26 condemned a series of missile launches by North Korea after failing to do so earlier this month when China had wanted a statement also to oppose the planned deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea, Reuters reports.

North Korea test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile on Wednesday which flew about 500 km in the direction of Japan, the latest in a series of launches by the isolated nation in defiance of UN resolutions.

"The members of the Security Council deplore all Democratic People's Republic of Korea ballistic missile activities," the statement said, referring to North Korea by its formal name.

The statement referred to Wednesday's launch as well as other North Korean ballistic missile launches since July 9.

"Such activities contribute to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension," it said.

As in past statements, the Council went on to say that it "would continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures in line with the Council's previously expressed determination."

Earlier this month, the 15-member council had been unable to agree on a U.S.-drafted statement to condemn North Korea's Aug. 3 launch of a ballistic missile that landed in or near Japanese-controlled waters.