Europe Demands UN Security Council Meeting on 30th to Address North Korea Missile Launch Response

Ballistic Missile Launch Violates UN Security Council Resolution
Council Member: "Short-Range Ballistic Missile Launch Must Be Investigated"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] The five European members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), including the United Kingdom and France, have requested a meeting to discuss North Korea's recent missile launches, according to foreign media such as AFP on the 27th (local time).

AFP cited UN diplomats, reporting that the UK, France, Norway, Estonia, and Ireland have requested a closed-door UNSC meeting on the 30th.

Earlier, the UNSC members held a closed remote meeting of the North Korea Sanctions Committee on the 26th, expressing concern over North Korea's missile launches.

According to AP, most of the 15 UNSC members "expressed concern" over North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches, UN diplomats said.

Ballistic missile launches constitute a violation of UNSC resolutions.

All UNSC members agreed that the expert panel of the North Korea Sanctions Committee should investigate North Korea's launch of two short-range ballistic missiles on the 25th.

The UNSC also unanimously approved a proposal to extend the mandate of the expert panel of the North Korea Sanctions Committee for one year until April 30 next year in a vote conducted via email on the same day.

The resolution to extend the expert panel's mandate, led by the United States as the UNSC presidency this month, emphasized "the importance of reliable, fact-based independent assessments, analyses, and recommendations."

Meanwhile, North Korea officially confirmed the ballistic missile test launch through state media the day before.

Korean Central News Agency reported, "The National Defense Science Institute conducted a test launch of a newly developed new tactical guided missile on March 25," adding, "The two newly tested tactical guided missiles accurately struck the designated targets in the 600 km maritime area of the East Sea of Korea."