In this July 12, 2023 photo released by North Korea’s Central News Agency, the Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile is fired. According to North Korea, the missile flew 1,001 kilometers, for 4,491 seconds, at a maximum altitude of 6,648 kilometers, before falling into the East Sea. (Exclusive use in South Korea. Partial or complete distribution prohibited)
SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) — The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday (New York time) to discuss North Korea’s latest missile launch in which South Korea will participate as an observer, South Korean officials said .
The announcement came after North Korea was tested on Wednesday intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Hwasong-18, solid fuel, threw it towards the East sea. The launch marked North Korea’s second solid fuel ICBM launch, following its first test launch on April 13.
The missile launches came amid heightened tensions after Pyongyang accused US spy planes of “invading” the airspace over the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and warned it would take steps to counter such actions.
The South Korean official said South Korea would attend the UN Security Council meeting as a interested party in close coordination with countries including the US and Japan.
One official said the country called for a “firm and united response” from the UN Security Council to North Korea’s repeated violations of council resolutions.
North Korea is barred from carrying out any launches using ballistic missile technology under UNSC sanctions.
The CNSU meeting was convened at the request of the US, France, Japan, Albania, Malta and the UK, according to a Reuters report.
South Korea is not currently a non-permanent member of the council. The five permanent members are the US, China, France, Russia and the UK.
elias@yna.co.kr
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