North Korea's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was an exercise of its right to self-defense "to deter hazardous military movements of hostile forces and protect the security of our state," the country's UN envoy said in a rare appearance before the Security Council on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the 15-member Security Council convened following North Korea's announcement that it had tested its most recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-18.
North Korea Defends Missile Launch in Rare UN Appearance
Kim Song, North Korea's UN ambassador, told the council, "We categorically deny and detest the convening of the Security Council briefing by the United States and its allies."
According to diplomats, North Korea last spoke at a council meeting regarding its nuclear and ballistic missile programs in December 2017. Since 2006, North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has been subject to UN sanctions for its missile and nuclear programs. This includes a moratorium on ballistic missile development, as per Reuters.
The council has been divided over how to approach Pyongyang for several years. Russia and China, veto powers along with the United States, Britain, and France, have stated that additional sanctions will not be helpful and have called for the relaxation of such measures.
Per Fox News, the news comes just days after the reclusive nation threatened "stunning" repercussions in response to what it deemed a provocative US reconnaissance operation near its territory.
The joint chiefs of staff of South Korea announced in a statement that they had detected a ballistic missile launch near the capital of North Korea, Pyongyang. Now, the government wishes to address the United Nations Security Council directly.
North Korea Blames US for Regional Tensions
The government of South Korea has verified that a representative of the nation will attend the meeting as an observer. The North Korean representative will likely bring up long-standing grievances about US military presence in the region, which the authoritarian nation believes has exceeded its boundaries.
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, accused the United States of flying surveillance aircraft over the North's exclusive economic zone, the area within 200 nautical miles of its territory where it controls rights to natural resources.
Kim Yo Jong stated that a US surveillance aircraft crossed Koreas' eastern sea boundary around 5:00 a.m. on Monday and conducted surveillance over the North's exclusive economic zone before being chased away by North Korean fighter jets.
She added that the US aircraft crossed the eastern sea boundary again at approximately 8:50 a.m., prompting North Korea's military to issue an unspecified "strong warning" to the US. Kim Song, North Korea's UN ambassador, told the council, "We categorically deny and detest the convening of the Security Council briefing by the United States and its allies."
According to diplomats, North Korea last spoke at a council meeting regarding its nuclear and ballistic missile programs in December 2017. Since 2006, North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has been subject to United Nations sanctions for its missile and nuclear programs. This includes a moratorium on ballistic missile development.
The council has been divided over how to approach Pyongyang for several years. Russia and China, veto powers along with the United States, Britain, and France, have stated that additional sanctions will not be helpful and have called for the relaxation of such measures.
China and Russia blame joint military exercises by the United States and South Korea for inciting Pyongyang, while Washington accuses Beijing and Moscow of bolstering Pyongyang by shielding it from additional sanctions.
Zhang Jun, China's UN ambassador, informed the council that Beijing was committed to denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and the dialogue-based resolution of the issue. He characterized the situation as "tense" and stated that it was becoming "increasingly antagonistic."
Zhang stated that China has "taken heed" of North Korea's most recent missile launch. He criticized a communique by NATO leaders this week, telling the council that it was "long-winded and full of Cold War mentality and ideological prejudices." Zhang stated that NATO should conduct "introspection."
The communique from NATO leaders stated that China's "ambitions and coercive policies" threatened NATO's interests, security, and values.
