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2nd LD Writethru: UN Security Council slams DPRK's failed ballistic missile launches

Xinhua, June 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

The UN Security Council on Wednesday "strongly condemned" the most recent failed ballistic missile launches of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on May 31 and April 27-28.

"These repeated attempted launches are in grave violation of the DPRK's international obligations under United Nations Security Council resolutions," the 15-nation UN council said in a statement.

"The members of the Security Council deplore all DPRK ballistic missile activities, including these multiple failed launches, noting that such activities contribute to the DPRK's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension," it said.

"The members of the Security Council further regretted that the DPRK is diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles while DPRK citizens have great unmet needs," the statement said.

The Security Council has adopted five resolutions -- resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013), 2094 (2013) and 2270 (2016) -- to curb the DPRK's nuclear and missile programs.

The latest one adopted in March imposes the most severe sanctions yet on the country, including an export ban and asset freeze.

"The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern that the DPRK conducted this series of further ballistic missile launches after the April 15 and April 23 launches, in flagrant disregard of the repeated statements of the Security Council," the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea shall refrain from further actions," it said.

The council members called on all member states to redouble their efforts to implement fully the measures imposed on the DPRK by the Security Council, particularly the comprehensive measures contained in resolution 2270 (2016), it said.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in North-East Asia at large," the statement said.

"They expressed their commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation and welcomed efforts by council members as well as other States to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue," it said.

The Six-Party Talks which involve the DPRK, South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United States have been stalled since late 2008.

The members of the Security Council agreed that the Security Council would continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures in line with the Security Council's previously expressed determination, it added. Endit