International
0

N. Korea Accuses UNSC of ‘Reckless Provocation’

N. Korea Accuses UNSC of ‘Reckless Provocation’
N. Korea Accuses UNSC of ‘Reckless Provocation’

North Korea has denounced a UN Security Council statement condemning its four latest ballistic missile launches, calling it “a hostile act” perpetrated by the United States and warning that it could precipitate America’s “self-destruction.”

A foreign ministry statement sent to UN correspondents on Monday also warned that North Korea “has substantial means capable of reducing aggression troops in the US mainland and the operational theater in the Pacific to ashes in a moment.”

A press statement approved Friday night by all 15 Security Council members, including North Korea’s ally China, called the four launches in July and August “grave violations” of a ban on all ballistic missile activity, AP reported.

The council expressed “serious concern” that North Korea had carried out the launches after six ballistic missile firings between April and June, “in flagrant disregard” of the council’s repeated demands to halt all missile launches and nuclear tests which violate UN resolutions.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of instigating the statement and “abusing” the Security Council, to deter the country’s “legitimate right to self-defense.”

The ministry called the council statement “a reckless provocation harassing peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.”

It accused the Security Council of deliberately disregarding a complaint sent by the North Korean government about US-South Korean military exercises currently underway. North Korea has threatened retaliation for these exercises, which it views as a rehearsal for invasion by the US and other adversaries.

“This is an illegal action taken by the world body to side with the US in the acute standoff between the DPRK and the US without an iota of impartiality,” the ministry said, using the initials of the country’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

North Korea singled out the council’s condemnation of the latest submarine launch of a ballistic missile on Aug. 24, days after the US and South Korea began their annual military exercises.

North Korea usually responds to the annual South Korea-US military drills with weapons tests and fiery warlike rhetoric

South Korean officials said the missile flew about 500 km, the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon. That means all of South Korea, and possibly parts of Japan, are within its striking distance.

Financialtribune.com