The UN Security Council (UNSC) held an emergency closed-door meeting on October 21 (Vietnam time), one day after the launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea.

A UNSC meeting on North Korea held in New York on August 29, 2021. Photo: VNA

Pyongyang announced that it had succeeded in launching a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).

The meeting of the top UN body was held at the request of the US and the UK, international media reported, adding that that the UNSC failed to reach a consensus response as China and Russia opposed the request to compile a statement regarding the launch.

This is the fourth UNSC emergency meeting on the North Korean missile launch since March 2021.

After the meeting, Vietnamese representatives said Vietnam, as a non-permanent member of the UNSC, shared the common concerns about the missile launch on October 19, according to reporters of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) in the UN.

Hanoi called on related parties to avoid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula and stressed the importance of resuming negotiations as soon as possible.

Vietnam once again reiterated its consistent policy of supporting disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons towards the complete abolition of these weapons, affirming to strictly implement its obligations related to international treaties and UNSC resolutions.

Vietnam said that Security Council resolutions must be fully respected and implemented, but that relevant parties should make every effort to avoid negative impacts on the people.

UNSC’s permanent members France, the UK, and the US said they will push sanctions against North Korea. Meanwhile, the two remaining permanent members, China and Russia, did not comment.

Other permanent members namely France, Ireland, and Estonia issued a joint statement strongly condemning the launch and called for the enforcement of sanctions against Pyongyang, VNA reported.

US Ambassador to the UN Thomas Greenfield told reporters: “It is unacceptable because it violates multiple Security Council resolutions. North Korea’s missile development threatens the peace and security of the international community,” NHK reported

“The United States is calling for a dialogue without preconditions, making it clear that there is no hostile intent,” and asked North Korea to return to the dialogue," he said.