US Seeks UN Security Council Meeting on North Korea

Says missile tests are a 'threat to international peace'

Following a weekend missile test by North Korea, the United States has called a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the nation. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

North Korea has carried out 15 weapons tests so far this year. US officials say such tests are a “threat to international peace,” and are looking for new UN Security Council measures against them.

That seems unlikely right now, as both China and Russia are said to oppose taking any new action on North Korea at this time. South Korea’s president-elect is keen to take a hard-line on the north, and its likely that this is at least part of the US motivation to call a meeting.

State Department officials say they want the UN to recognize what they have in the past about the North Korean tests. It is noteworthy, however, that the US has itself been very inconsistent on whether the tests are an emergency to react to, or something to just ignore.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.