The UN Security Council is to hold an urgent meeting later on Monday after North Korea announced it had successfully tested a new ballistic missile, a launch seen as a challenge to President Donald Trump. The North's leader Kim Jong-Un "expressed great satisfaction over the possession of another powerful nuclear attack means which adds to the tremendous might of the country," state news agency KCNA said. Permanent Security Council members China and Russia joined a chorus of international criticism of Sunday's launch by the nuclear-armed nation from near the western city of Kusong. The council will meet around 2200 GMT on Monday following a request by the United States, Japan and South Korea. North Korea is barred under UN resolutions from carrying out ballistic missile launches or nuclear weapons tests. But last year it conducted two nuclear tests and numerous missile launches in its quest to develop a nuclear weapons system capable of hitting the US mainland. The latest missile — said by Pyongyang to be able to carry a nuclear warhead — flew east for about 500 km before falling into the Sea of Japan (East Sea), South Korea's defense ministry has said. Meanwhile, China, facing criticism that it is not doing enough to pressure North Korea to drop its nuclear program, said on Monday that the root cause of North Korean missile launches is Pyongyang's friction with the United States and South Korea. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China opposed the launch, which violated UN Security Council resolutions that call for an end to North Korea's nuclear and missile tests. China is North Korea's largest source of trade and aid, and Trump has complained that Beijing is not doing enough to pressure Pyongyang. Beijing counters that its influence is overstated and suggests that Washington's refusal to talk directly to North Korea is impeding progress toward a solution. "The root cause of the (North Korean) nuclear missile issue is its differences with the US and South Korea," Geng told reporters at a regular briefing. Geng said China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has been "completely and comprehensively" implementing Security Council resolutions on the nuclear issue. He said Beijing "has been striving for a settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue by proactively engaging in mediation and promoting peace talks." Although generally dismissive of sanctions, Beijing has signed on to successive rounds under the UN Security Council, and last month banned more items from being exported to North Korea, including plutonium and dual-use technologies that could aid its nuclear program. Geng urged all sides to refrain from provocative action and said China would continue participating in Security Council discussions in a constructive and responsible way. Beijing appears concerned that the US and South Korea will speed up the planned deployment of an advanced missile defense system in South Korea designed to counter a missile attack from the North following the latest launch. Beijing objects to the system because it would possibly be able to observe Chinese military movements.
