UN Security Council Fails to Issue Statement Condemning North Korea Missile Launch Due to China and Russia Opposition

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held a closed emergency meeting regarding North Korea's hypersonic missile launch but failed to agree on issuing a joint statement.

According to AFP, at the UNSC emergency meeting held on the 1st (local time), France sought to adopt a joint statement, but Russia and China opposed, saying it was not yet the right time.

AFP reported that China and Russia argued they needed more time to analyze the issue.

The UNSC meeting was originally scheduled for the 30th of last month but was postponed by a day at the request of China and Russia.

North Korea raised international concerns by test-firing the newly developed hypersonic missile Hwasong-8 from Doyang-ri, Ryongrim County, Jagang Province on the 28th of last month.

Hypersonic missiles, which rush toward their targets at speeds over five times the speed of sound, are virtually impossible to intercept with existing missile defense (MD) systems.