Korea says UN condemnation of missile tests ‘provocation’

A photo of North Korea’s launch of a submarine-launched ballistic missile in the East Sea, released by the country’s Rodong Sinmun newspaper on August 25, 2016.

The statement approved by all 15 members deplored the fact that the North’s ballistic missile activities were contributing to its development of nuclear weapon delivery systems and increasing tensions.

The council issued a press statement strongly denouncing North Korea’s missile tests in a unanimous decision reached on Friday (New York time), the ministry said.

In March, the council adopted the toughest sanctions to date, targeting North Korea’s trade in minerals and tightening banking restrictions.

North Korea has pledged to develop a nuclear arsenal in a bid to protect itself from the U.S. military, which occasionally deploys nuclear-powered warships and aircraft capable of carrying atomic weapons in the region.

The increasingly provocative actions by North Korea do not exist in a vacuum, but instead appear to be responsive to the massive two-week Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) war games that began on Monday with over 50,000 South Korean and 30,000 U.S. soldiers taking part.

The United States says the system is defensive and meant to counter North Korea’s missile threat.

The council met after North Korea launched a missile from a submarine towards Japan on August 24. South Korean defense officials said the missile was tracked flying about 500 kilometers (310 miles), the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon.

Following the test launch, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe accused Pyongyang of carrying out an “unforgivable act”.

However, Friday’s statement did not include such language.

Before the United Nations condemnation of Pyongyang’s missile tests which was issued after several rounds of negotiations, North Korean Foreign Ministry official Jon Min Dok said in an interview with the Associated Press Television News that the US-led discussions at the United Nations were a “terrible provocation”.

Despite all United Nations resolutions issued for many years, North Korea is going on to make missiles launches from its submarines, the recent one was registered on Wednesday.

North Korea’s latest missile test has security analysts admitting that the military-led country is closer than ever to possessing a nuclear missile system capable of attacking another country.

North Korea already has a variety of land-based missiles that can hit South Korea and Japan, including US military bases in those countries.

“The best way for the U.S.to escape a deadly strike from us is by refraining from insulting our dignity and threatening our security, by exercising prudence and self-control”, Jon told AP.

Members also expressed “their commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation” and stressed “the importance of working to reduce tensions in the Korean Peninsula and beyond”.