North Korea fired two more ballistic missiles on Thursday – the sixth such banned launch in less than two weeks.
Pyongyang on Wednesday described its latest explosion as “mere retaliation” for joint US-South Korean military exercises.
On Tuesday, Pyongyang fired a missile at Japan, prompting the United States to call an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
At the meeting, the US accused Russia and China of shielding the North from tough sanctions.
The US ambassador to the United Nations said Moscow and Beijing had given Pyongyang “blanket protection” in opposing further sanctions. Chinese and Russian representatives said increased dialogue is better than punishment.
For the past two months, the US, South Korea and Japan have been holding a series of joint exercises as they practice to defeat and deter a North Korean attack. The drills have drawn opposition from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who sees them as evidence that his enemies are preparing for war.
In its statement, the North accused the US of “increasing military tensions on the Korean Peninsula”.
On Wednesday, the US, Japan and South Korea conducted more drills, which they said were in response to Tuesday’s launch. The US said there was “no equivalence” between a banned missile test and security exercises.
The US also redeployed its aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan near the Korean Peninsula.
As the Security Council wrapped up a meeting on North Korea's dangerous ballistic missile launches, we learned that Pyongyang launched two more missiles.
— Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (@USAmbUN) October 6, 2022
Make no mistake: the two Council members that are blocking us from taking action are enabling North Korea.
