U.N. Security Council Condemns N. Korea's Missile Launch

New York, Oct. 17 (Jiji Press)--The U.N. Security Council issued Monday a press statement strongly condemning North Korea's latest missile launch. The launch, albeit unsuccessful, on Saturday of what appeared to be a Musudan medium-range ballistic missile is "in grave violation" of North Korea's international obligations under Security Council resolutions, the statement said. Expressing "serious concern" over the reclusive state repeating missile launches and nuclear tests, the council urged North Korea to refrain from further actions, including nuclear tests. In a related development, Japan and many other nations denounced North Korea's missile launches and nuclear tests at a U.N. General Assembly session on disarmament. At the Security Council, the United States, China and Japan are leading work to draw up a resolution calling for stepped-up sanctions against North Korea over its most recent nuclear test, in September. END