US requests Wednesday UN Security Council meeting on N.Korea

According to diplomats, the US has requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting for Wednesday to discuss North Korea, amid fears that Pyongyang will resume nuclear testing in the coming weeks.

According to the same diplomats, Washington holds the Security Council presidency for the month of May and has been considering calling a meeting since late last week. The public meeting is set to begin at 1900 GMT.

It comes as Pyongyang has dramatically ramped up its sanctions-busting missile launches, conducting 15 weapons tests since January including firing an intercontinental ballistic missile at full range for the first time since 2017.

North Korea’s latest test occurred Saturday when Pyongyang fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile, its second missile launch in just three days.

The Wednesday Security Council meeting will be held one day after the swearing-in of South Korea’s hawkish new president Yoon Suk-yeol, who has vowed to get tough on Pyongyang and bolster the US security alliance.

Satellite imagery meanwhile indicates North Korea may also be preparing to resume nuclear testing, with the US State Department on Friday warning a test could come “as early as this month.”

No comment could immediately be obtained from the US diplomatic mission to the UN on Wednesday’s proposed meeting.

Washington has also recently proposed toughening sanctions on North Korea through the Security Council.

A draught Security Council resolution presented last month by the US and seen by AFP would tighten sanctions, including reducing the amount of crude oil North Korea would be allowed to import each year for civilian purposes from four million to two million barrels.

However, diplomats say there is no support for the resolution from China or Russia, which both have veto power and have relations with Pyongyang.