US calls on UN Security Council to hold meeting over latest North Korea missile test

The United States has called on the United Nations Security Council to hold a meeting to discuss North Korea’s latest missile test.

The Associated Press reported, citing Security Council diplomats, reported that the test launch of the intermediate-range ballistic missile was confirmed by North Korea, in its seventh round of weapons launches this month.

The AP added that the North Korean missile traveled 800 kilometers and reached a peak height of 2,000 kilometers before it landed in the sea, according to the South Korean and Japanese militaries.

Early warning American military systems warned that a North Korean missile launched earlier last month could hit as far as the coast of California or the Aleutian Islands, according to a US media report.

Two sources familiar with the issue told CNN that they believe that the North Korean missile was designed to avoid missile defenses and were similar to a hypersonic glide.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded a number of West Coast fights around the time of the missile launch.

White House officials view the missile launches as provocative moves by North Korea that have only caused more concern, the AP reported.

The diplomats told the wire service that the US Mission to the United Nations is seeking a closed consultation meeting from the US Security Council on Thursday.

In mid-January, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called North Korea’s missile tests “profoundly destabilizing”.

“We are very focused with allies and partners in making sure that they and we are properly defended and that there are repercussions, consequences for these actions by North Korea,” Blinken said in an interview with MSNBC.

North Korea tests longest-range missile since 2017 in message to US

North Korea has launched its longest-range missile test since 2017 despite American warnings that the country could be subjected to more sanctions.

The administration of US President Joe Biden last month imposed its first sanctions. Washington also called on the UN Security Council to take action against several North Korean individuals and entities accused of violating resolutions that ban North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons development.

A North Korean foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement the new sanctions underscore hostile American intent aimed at "isolating and stifling" the North despite Washington's repeated calls for Pyongyang to resume diplomacy.

"The US is intentionally escalating the situation even with the activation of independent sanctions, not content with referring the DPRK's just activity to the UN Security Council," the statement said.

The spokesperson said that the North's development of the new missile is part of its efforts to modernize its military and explained that it does not target any specific country or threaten the security of its neighbors.

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