US discusses sanctions on North Korea’s ballistic missile launch through UN

[아시아경제 유인호 기자] The United States discusses the issue of North Korea’s ballistic missile launch at the UN Security Council’s North Korea Sanctions Committee.

“I want to make it clear that North Korea is very concerned about the missile test conducted a few days ago,” said US Ambassador to the United Nations Thomas Greenfield at a press conference explaining the plan to participate in the 76th UN General Assembly on the 17th (local time). It has also been in contact with regional partners and has been discussed at the Security Council and will be discussed at the 1718 Committee.”

The 1718 Commission is the UN Security Council sanctions committee on North Korea. As this ballistic missile launch clearly violates UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea, it suggests the possibility of taking countermeasures after discussion with the North Korea Sanctions Committee.

However, there is a possibility that only a meeting will be convened and no further action will be taken.

The UN Security Council held a private meeting of the UN Security Council’s sanctions committee against North Korea when North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile in March, but there was no specific follow-up action.

The Security Council has usually adopted statements of condemnation or sanctions against North Korea’s nuclear tests and mid- and long-range ballistic missile launches, but has generally shown no response to short-range ballistic missiles.

Amid such international sanctions movements, North Korea is insisting that the launch of short-range ballistic missiles is not a provocation but a self-defense activity in accordance with its internal defense force strengthening plan.

In a discourse on the day of the launch of the ballistic missile, Kim Yeo-jung, Vice-Chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea, said, “It is not aimed at anyone and selecting at a certain time to provoke.” We are carrying out normal and self-defense activities for the purpose of training,” he said.

By Yoo In-ho, staff reporter sinryu007@asiae.co.kr