By Sohn JiAe

The U.N. Security Council has adopted a unanimous statement saying that it “strongly condemns North Korea’s ballistic missile launch on May 21.”

In the statement, adopted on May 22, the council expressed its “utmost concern over Pyongyang’s highly destabilizing behavior,” and announced that its “members will continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures, including sanctions, in line with the council’s previously expressed determinations."

The statement continued to say that, “The council vows to fully and comprehensively implement all measures imposed on the country, and strongly urges all other U.N. member states to do the same.”

“The regime’s illegal ballistic missile activities are contributing significantly to its development of nuclear weapons delivery systems, and are greatly increasing tension in the region and beyond,” the council said.

“The country is diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, while its own citizens have great unmet needs,” it stressed.

Reiterating the “importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and across Northeast Asia at large," the council members emphasized their commitment to “facilitating a peaceful and comprehensive solution to the situation through dialogue.”

jiae5853@korea.kr