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The official North Korean agency on Thursday confirmed the firing of a hypersonic missile for the second time following a first shot carried out last September.
On Wednesday, the United States, Japan and Canada had notably condemned the shooting.
AFP
The UN Security Council will meet behind closed doors on Monday to discuss the test firing on Wednesday of a hypersonic missile claimed by Pyongyang, diplomatic sources said Thursday.
This session was requested by the United States, France and the United Kingdom, permanent members of the Security Council, as well as by Ireland and Albania, new non-permanent member of the body since January 1, according to the same sources. “No joint declaration” from the Security Council is expected, according to a diplomat. Another believed that statements should be made before or following the meeting.
A first test in September
In 2017, the Security Council demonstrated rare unity over North Korea by unanimously adopting three rounds of severe economic sanctions once morest that country following nuclear and missile tests. On Thursday, the official North Korean news agency KCNA said the missile carried a “hypersonic warhead” which “accurately hit a target 700 km away”.
The missile head also demonstrated a “new” ability, moving sideways for 120 km following detaching from the launcher to strike the target, the agency added. This is the second time that North Korea has announced a hypersonic missile launch, an illustration of rapid progress in its military technology. The first was carried out in September.
On Wednesday, the United States, Japan and Canada had notably condemned the shooting, judging that it violated several Security Council resolutions and that it posed a threat to North Korea’s neighbors and the international community in its together. Pyongyang says it needs its arsenal to defend once morest a possible American invasion.
(AFP)
