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Subject: Beijing showed its impatience over North Korea’s continued illegal missile launches as the United Nations security council threatened more sanctions…
Excerpt: English text from the archived bilingual edition · Chinese edition
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Beijing showed its impatience over North Korea’s continued illegal missile launches as the United Nations security council threatened more sanctions against Kim Jong-un’s regime, which is believed to be preparing for a further nuclear test
President Xi Jinping of China underscored Beijing’s commitment to enforcing existing UN sanctions on North Korea and to preventing any instability on its doorstep
“As a close neighbour we will never allow war or chaos on the [Korean] peninsula,” he told a meeting of regional foreign ministers in Beijing
The UN security council on Thursday held urgent closed-door consultations after North Korea’s unsuccessful launch earlier in the day of two medium-range missiles
The North has now made three bids in two weeks to test-fly a Musudan missile, which is capable of striking US bases on the Pacific island of Guam
“We are looking at a response,” said China’s ambassador, Liu Jieyi, who holds the security council presidency for April
Security council diplomats warned North Korea to expect a response after Pyongyang’s repeated failed attempts to test-fire a powerful ballistic missile, the latest defiance of UN resolutions
The Japanese ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa said Tokyo condemned the “grave and very clear violations” of UN resolutions that comprised a direct threat to Japan’s national security
The 15-member council was unanimous in condemning the latest launches, Yoshikawa said
UN resolutions bar North Korea from developing any ballistic missile-related technology, and South Korea said it would push for fresh penalties
Diplomats said they expected the council to issue a statement on Friday after the Chinese delegation requested time to consult with officials in Beijing
South Korea said a first launch on Thursday of what was understood to be a Musudan missile saw the rocket plunge back to earth seconds after take-off
A second attempt in the evening – again of a Musudan – also appeared to have failed, a defence ministry official said
An initial effort on 15 April – the birthday of late founding leader Kim Il-sung – ended in what the Pentagon described as “fiery, catastrophic” failure, with the missile apparently exploding just after take-off
South Korean military officials say the North is desperate to register a successful launch ahead of next week’s ruling party congress, at which Kim Jong-un is expected to take credit for pushing ahead with the country’s nuclear programme
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