"The international community and our colleagues in the United Nations’ Security Council have condemned the North Korean launch clearly and swiftly as a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874,” U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Susan Rice said to the press in New York after the UN Security Council’s meeting to discuss North Korea’s recent launch using ballistic missile technology.
This launch came just eight months after the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a Presidential Statement making clear that any launch using ballistic missile technology, regardless how North Korea chose to characterize it, would be a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. In its April statement, the council also expressed its “determination to take action accordingly in the event of a further North Korean launch.”
“This launch also shows that despite the Security Council’s clear requirements, North Korea is determined to pursue its ballistic missile program without regard for its international obligations,” Ambassador Rice said. “In the days ahead, the United States will work with partners on the Security Council, as well as our partners in the Six-Party Talks and other countries in the international community, to pursue appropriate action.”
Following the Security Council’s initial discussion, the United States has continued to work within the UN on an appropriate response to this provocation.
“Negotiations begin among Council members, particularly those with a particular interest in this topic,” Ambassador Rice said. “We will approach those as we have in the past with a clear set of objectives . . . We are very much ready to engage with our colleagues on the Council and we will be searching for a clear and credible response.”
This launch came just eight months after the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a Presidential Statement making clear that any launch using ballistic missile technology, regardless how North Korea chose to characterize it, would be a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. In its April statement, the council also expressed its “determination to take action accordingly in the event of a further North Korean launch.”
“This launch also shows that despite the Security Council’s clear requirements, North Korea is determined to pursue its ballistic missile program without regard for its international obligations,” Ambassador Rice said. “In the days ahead, the United States will work with partners on the Security Council, as well as our partners in the Six-Party Talks and other countries in the international community, to pursue appropriate action.”
Following the Security Council’s initial discussion, the United States has continued to work within the UN on an appropriate response to this provocation.
“Negotiations begin among Council members, particularly those with a particular interest in this topic,” Ambassador Rice said. “We will approach those as we have in the past with a clear set of objectives . . . We are very much ready to engage with our colleagues on the Council and we will be searching for a clear and credible response.”
