(Photo: Xinhua-Yonhap)
The United States and several European countries have condemned North Korea's recent missile tests, saying they demonstrate the urgent need to ramp up implementation of U.N. sanctions on its nuclear and missile programs and its economic activities.
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Wednesday urged North Koreato stop its "reckless provocations" that violate Security Council sanctions resolutions.
She reiterated to reporters ahead of an emergency closed meeting of the U.N. Security Council that the U.S. has made clear it has no hostile intent towards the North.
She added that Pyongyang should start talks with the Biden administration, without preconditions, toward the goal of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
In a separate statement, the three members of the European Union on the council -- Ireland, France and Estonia -- said Monday's reported test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile "underlines the continued enhancement" of the North's nuclear and ballistic program.
They called for an immediate end to its "destabilizing actions" and "concrete steps to abandon its ballistic missiles" and other weapons of mass destruction "in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner."
The EU members also urged North Korea to respond positively to the repeated offers by South Korea and the U.S. for dialogue saying "there is no other way to achieve peace, security and stability on the Korean Peninsula."
The 15-member Security Council heard a briefing on the latest missile tests from U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Mohamed Khaled Khiari, but did not issue a statement.
The council has imposed increasingly tough sanctions on North Korea, severely restricting its imports and exports, while demanding an end to its nuclear and ballistic missile activities.
But North Korea has repeatedly flouted council resolutions.
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