UN Security Council 'strongly condemns' NKorea missile launches

Jun 23, 2016

The council "strongly condemned" the back-to-back June 21 intermediate-range missile tests, characterizing them as "grave violations" of a string of resolutions dating to 2006.

The UN Security Council on Thursday rebuked North Korea for its latest missile tests, calling for redoubled enforcement of sanctions imposed after Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test earlier this year.

The council "strongly condemned" the back-to-back June 21 intermediate-range missile tests, characterizing them as "grave violations" of a string of resolutions dating to 2006.

"The members of the Security Council deplore all DPRK ballistic missile activities noting that such activities contribute to the DPRK's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension," the Security Council said in a statement.

North Korea's formal name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"The members of the Security Council further regretted that the DPRK is diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles while DPRK citizens have great unmet needs," the statement said.

In calling for redoubled enforcement of sanctions, the Security Council urged member states to report on concrete measures they have taken in that regard.

The sanctions -- the toughest yet against North Korea -- were imposed after it conducted a fourth nuclear test on January 6, followed by a long-range rocket test February 7.

After a series failures in recent months, North Korea tested two intermediate range Musudan missiles on Wednesday, one of which flew 400 kilometers into the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un boasted that the tests significantly bolstered the North's preemptive attack capabilities in the Pacific.

"We have the sure capability to attack in an overall and practical way the Americans in the Pacific operation theater," the KCNA news agency quoted him as saying.

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