UNSC to discuss North Korea's missile test

North Korea carried out the test fire of a medium long-range ballistic missile, Pukguksong-2, on Sunday.

United Nations, Feb 13: The UN Security Council will assemble on Monday for emergency consultations on North Korea's successful ballistic missile test after Japan, South Korea and the US called for an urgent meeting, diplomats said.

The closed door meeting will be held at 5 p.m., said a spokesperson of Ukraine's mission, which is holding the presidency of the organisation this month, Efe news reported.

The launch of the missile carried out by the Pyongyang regime on Sunday is the first since last October and also becomes the first military provocation of North Korea since Donald Trump took charge as the US President.

The Pukguksong-2, a medium long-range ballistic missile, was test fired under the supervision of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to North Korea's Korean Central News Agency.

A US official told CNN the missile travelled 500 km before landing in the sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, and that it was launched from North Pyongan province.

After the launch, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was in the US on a visit, urged North Korea to stop its provocations.

Last year, the security council had imposed tough sanctions on the North Korean regime in response to its nuclear and missile tests, which it further toughened in November.

IANS