The U.N. Holds Emergency Session To Condemn North Korea’s Missile Launch

North Korea is now beginning to face the Aftermath of their unsanctioned long-range missile launch this weekend. USA Today reports that The United Nations Security Council held an emergency session today to further condemn North Korea’s actions.

The U.N. says, at the emergency session, that in doing so, North Korea has deliberately disregarded their sanctions placed upon them. The U.N. condemns Eastern nation for their actions.

Fifteen council members of the emergency session promptly, prepared a statement which they all approved upon. The purpose of this emergency statement was to pledge to “expeditiously” adopt a new resolution with “significant” new sanctions.

Condemning #DPRK missile launch, Security Council to pursue significant measures in response https://t.co/w604Q7pCu4 pic.twitter.com/5uuKEKGl1Q

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) February 7, 2016

The statement also noted that launches using ballistic missile technology, “even if characterized as a satellite launch or space launch vehicle” still fall under the category of nuclear weapon testing and development — two things that North Korea is prohibited from doing.

More specifically, the emergency council stressed that using ballistic missile technology is a clear violation of four emergency council resolutions since 2006.

Therefore, the U.N. indicates that there should have been no room for discrepancies on North Korea’s behalf.

South Korea announce that it will begin discussing their Northern neighbor’s actions with the United States in light of the emergency session.

Head of defense planning for South Korean Defense Ministry, Yoo Jeh Seung, said “Seoul and Washington will discuss deploying the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile system in response. Yoo told the Associated Press the following.

“The Republic of Korea and the U.S. assesses that North Korea’s nuclear test and its long-range missile test is a severe threat against peace and stability of Republic of Korea and Asia Pacific Region.”

The two nations deem that course of action necessary because North Korea’s move is being viewed as a “provocation” even before the emergency session was held by the UN.

China, on the other hand, is standing by North Korea’s side, despite the emergency council’s resolutions.

The Chinese government believes that a U.S. anit-missile system (THAAD) will only escalate tensions between the nations. Russian ambassador, Alexander Timonin, shared these sentiments of concern to the emergency session.

Nevertheless, the U.S. will heed the warnings of the emergency council and plan to go forth with setting up anti-missile defense systems anyway. The United States believes that the missiles could reach American soil potentially.

U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii added that it had “detected and tracked today, what we assess was a North Korean missile.” However, it does not seem to pose any immediate threat to the United States or its allies.

Secretary of State John Kerry also wants to see North Korea held accountable for their actions. He said the U.S. would work with the U.N. Security Council on “significant measures” to hold North Korea accountable for the launch.

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also support’s the UN emergency council’s and ally’s decision calling the launch “intolerable.” Segments of North Korea’s missile landed in Western Pacific Ocean, about 1,242 miles south of the Okinawa, Japan.

Prime Minister Abe told reporters, “We absolutely cannot allow this. We will take action to totally protect the safety and well-being of our people.”

North Korea has already just violated UN sanctions in December of 2012.

South Korean analysts speculate that the launch was supposed to be slated for February 16 — the birthday of the late previous supreme ruler of North Korea — Kim jong Il.

Analyst view the move as a grim foretelling of destruction in Il’s honor.

North Korea also goes on record for testing nuclear explosive devices in 2006, 2009 and 2013 and no war has been declared so far.

So what do you think? Is the emergency session an over-reaction? Or is North Korea really up to something sinister?

[AP Photo/Mark Lennihan]