[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The diplomatic situation on the Korean Peninsula is rapidly intensifying following North Korea's test launch of a hypersonic missile.
As the international community demands a United Nations Security Council meeting regarding North Korea's hypersonic missile launch, if stronger sanctions against North Korea are imposed through this, prospects for dialogue with North Korea will diminish, potentially leading to military provocations and further tightening of the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
According to diplomatic sources on the 9th, the UN Security Council is scheduled to discuss North Korea's hypersonic missile launch on the 10th (local time).
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official stated, "Some Security Council members have requested a closed meeting on the 10th New York time, and discussions among Security Council members are expected to proceed accordingly."
Foreign media such as Sputnik News and AFP reported, citing diplomatic sources, that the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, and Albania have requested the Security Council to hold consultations on North Korea's missile launch on the 10th.
Previously, on the 5th, North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the East Sea from the Jagang Province area. The next day, North Korea's state media claimed that the projectile was a hypersonic missile and that it hit a target set at 700 km. North Korea's ballistic missile launch violates Security Council sanctions resolutions.
In response, the United States and South Korea have stepped up pressure on North Korea and China. The United States appears to be tightening its grip on China alongside the international community in response to North Korea's military provocations.
On the 6th (local time), the U.S. Department of State announced that it is closely discussing follow-up measures with allies regarding North Korea's hypersonic missile test launch announcement.
At a briefing that day, State Department spokesperson Ned Price, when asked whether the U.N. Security Council meeting would be convened following North Korea's hypersonic missile test launch, said, "Our commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan remains ironclad, and we will continue close contact with treaty allies in the Indo-Pacific region as well as allies and partners worldwide."
Price condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launch, stating, "It is a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council (North Korea) resolutions," and added, "It poses a threat to North Korea's neighbors and the international community." He further explained, "This is why we urge North Korea to refrain from further provocations and to engage in sustained and substantive dialogue."
The Biden administration is pressuring China alongside North Korea. On the 6th (local time), Kurt Campbell, U.S. White House Indo-Pacific Coordinator, emphasized that China's cooperation is essential in responding to North Korea.
Coordinator Campbell said during a virtual discussion hosted by the U.S. think tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, "China's role is essential in negotiations with Iran and North Korea," and explained, "The U.S. and China share interests in maintaining non-proliferation norms on the international stage."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is taking a stance aligned with the United States, consulting with the U.N. Security Council members, including the U.S., on responses related to North Korea's hypersonic missile test launch.
Accordingly, the government is expected to take action centered on the United States and the international community, such as convening a U.N. Security Council meeting.
The Security Council also held emergency meetings last year to discuss North Korea's hypersonic missile 'Hwasong-8' launch and submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) launch, respectively. However, these did not lead to joint responses at the Security Council member level, such as press statements.
Nevertheless, some in diplomatic circles are cautiously raising the possibility of sanctions against North Korea this time.
The Security Council usually adopts sanction resolutions for major strategic provocations such as North Korea's nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launches. For short-range missiles, resolutions are generally not adopted, but there have been precedents of condemning launches through the lowest-level press statements.
The forms of expression by the Security Council, in order of strength, are 'resolution,' 'presidential statement,' and 'press statement.'
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