SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS LATEST MISSILE TESTS BY DPR KOREA

6 July - The Security Council today condemned the ballistic missile tests conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over the weekend, saying they violate Council resolutions and pose a threat to regional and international security.

Ambassador Ruhakana Rugunda of Uganda, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, read out a statement to journalists this evening saying that the 15-member panel had “expressed grave concerns” following the reported tests off the DPRK coast on 4 July.

Mr. Rugunda said Council members – which held consultations on the issue this afternoon – reiterated that the DPRK must comply with their obligations under all resolutions, including resolution 1874, which was adopted unanimously last month in response to a recent nuclear test by Pyongyang.

That resolution imposed a series of measures on the DPRK that include tougher inspections of cargo suspected of containing banned items related to the country's nuclear and ballistic missile activities, a tighter arms embargo with the exception of light weapons and new financial restrictions.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had welcomed the resolution and called on Pyongyang to engage in dialogue, including through the Six-Party Talks that brings together the DPRK, the Republic of Korea, Japan, China, Russia and the United States.

Mr. Rugunda said Council members appealed to all parties to refrain from reiterated their commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic solution to the issue.