UN condemns DPRK for missile launch

China strongly condemned the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for launching an intercontinental ballistic missile, calling it a "flagrant violation" of UN Security Council resolutions, and called on other parties to "exercise restraint (and) avoid provocative actions and belligerent rhetoric".

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said on Wednesday at an emergency Security Council meeting that China finds the DPRK's launch "unacceptable" and called for the country to abide by Security Council resolutions and to cease actions that may worsen current tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The DPRK said on Tuesday that it test-fired a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile that flew nearly 580 miles and reached an altitude of as high as 1,740 miles before landing in the sea.

Miroslav Jenca, assistant secretary-general of political affairs at the UN, said that the missile had a range of around 4,160 miles.

"This action is yet another brazen violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions and constitutes a dangerous escalation of the situation. The DPRK leadership must cease further provocative actions and comply fully with its international obligations," Jenca said.

China and Russia on Tuesday jointly called for de-escalation by the DPRK in its ballistic missile program, as well as on the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to suspend military exercises.

The joint initiative was announced by the Chinese and Russian foreign ministries after President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow.

"The current situation on the peninsula is complex and sensitive, and the dialogue process is at a standstill," Liu said.

"The China-Russia joint initiative is aimed at addressing both the symptoms and the root causes and taking integrated measures to strive for a solution. It is objective, fair, reasonable and feasible. We hope that it will get the support of the international community and help open a realistic route towards the resolution of the problem of the Korean Peninsula," he said.

Liu said that China is firmly opposed to chaos and conflict on the Korean Peninsula and also said that the THAAD anti-missile system deployed in the ROK undermines the security interests of the region, including China's.

"As such, it's not conducive to the realization of the denuclearization of the peninsula and the regional peace and stability. China urges the countries concerned to hold and cancel its deployment immediately," he said.

Nikki Haley, US permanent representative to the UN, denounced the DPRK for its actions in the region, saying it is a "threat to all nations in the region and beyond".

She said that the country's moves are closing off the "possibility of a diplomatic solution" and warned that the US is prepared to use "the full range" of the country's capabilities to defend itself and its allies.

"One of our capabilities lies with our considerable military forces. We will use them if we must, but we prefer not to have to go in that direction," she said.

Cho Tae-yul, representative from the ROK, stated that the it is "a source of our profound disappointment that the DPRK once again has chosen the wrong path by test firing another long-range ballistic missile" just days after an ROK-US summit in Washington between ROK President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump.

"We urge the DPRK to no longer test the unwavering resolve of the government of the Republic of Korea, as well as the international community, to achieve denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula," he said.

amyhe@chinadailyusa.com