UN Criticizes North Korea’s Latest SLBM Launch
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) denounced North Korea for the latest test-firing of its submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) off the East Coast. The UN called the test-firing a "grave violation" of resolutions that prohibit the Communist country from testing such ballistic missiles.
In a statement that was approved by all 15 member states, the UN condemned the North for its missile launches in July and early August, which also violated North Korea's obligations under its resolutions.
The statement also called on member states to "redouble their efforts" to implement the strongest sanctions ever to be given to North Korea on its fourth underground nuclear test in January and a long-range missile launch in February.
Korea JoongAng Daily reported that the joint statement was released two days after North Korea test-fired an SLBM from waters off the eastern port city of Sinpo on Wednesday morning. The latest SLBM launch of Pyongyang showed the improvement in the country's SLBM capability and was considered a success by the South Korean military. Because of the apparent success of the test launch, North Korea dubbed it as the "success of the successes" and declared that the country is now equipped with "nuclear attack capability."
Until Friday, it remained unclear whether the UN would release a statement unambiguously criticizing the Communist country for its newest provocation due to China's stance. Earlier this August, the council members' efforts to announce a statement denouncing North Korea's medium-range missile launch in July were abolished due to China's demand to include a denunciation of the THAAD deployment in South Korea.
North Korea balked at the council's latest denouncing statement on Sunday. An anonymous spokesperson for the North's Foreign Ministry announced in a statement through the Korean Central News Agency on Sunday that the United States and its allies had "once again carried out a grave hostile act" against North Korea by protesting against the country's "self-defense measure.
