Informal comments to the media by Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Missile Launch.
Ahead of Security Council closed-door consultations on the Democratic People Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) reported submarine-launched ballistic missile test, United States Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield today (20 Sep) said, “these are unlawful activities. They are in violation of multiple Security Council resolutions. And they are unacceptable.”
Thomas-Greenfield said, “we should not look at this most recent launch in isolation. It is the latest in a series of reckless provocations. Since the beginning of September, the DPRK has launched multiple ballistic missiles, one of which the DPRK claimed included a new hypersonic glide vehicle capability.”
She said, “the DPRK must abide by the Security Council resolutions, and it is time to engage in sustained and substantive dialogue toward the goal of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
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The Ambassador noted that the US has offered to meet the DPRK officials, “without any preconditions, and we have made clear that we hold no hostile intent toward the DPRK.”
Speaking on behalf of France, Estonia, and her country, Ireland, Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason “firmly condemn this provocative action which constitutes a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions.”
She welcomed today’s discussion at the Security Council and said the DPRK’s “ongoing nuclear and missile activities, as other WMD programmes” represent “a serious threat to regional and international peace and security.”
