US Requests Security Council Meeting on North Korea Missiles: "Clear Violation and Danger"

North Korea Tactical Guided Missile Inspection Firing Test... Launch Scene of 'North Korean Version of ATACMS' [Image Source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] On the 18th (local time), the United States requested the United Nations (UN) Security Council to convene a meeting regarding North Korea's recent missile launches.

AFP news agency reported this citing anonymous diplomatic sources. Albania, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, and Mexico joined the US in requesting the Security Council meeting. The source added that the Security Council meeting is scheduled to be held in private on the 20th.

On the same day, the US Department of Defense stated that it takes North Korea's successive missile launch tests seriously. John Kirby, spokesperson for the Department of Defense, responded in a press briefing to a question asking whether the US was downplaying North Korea's missile tests, saying, "Not at all."

He criticized, saying, "The US government condemned North Korea's missile launches," and added, "It is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions and a definite threat to regional allies and partners."