Sanctions to be discussed after North’s missile fires

A sanctions committee within the UN Security Council is set to discuss sanctions on North Korea later this month for its firing of several short-range missiles, according to reports.

Diplomatic sources indicated that South Korea, the United States, Japan and other nations inquired last week about whether North Korea’s firing of the missiles were in violation of UN sanctions.

“The sanctions committee within the UN Security Council may review and discuss the case, then make a recommendation to the UN Security Council to take action on an issue,” said a South Korean diplomatic official. “North Korea’s firing of ballistic missiles is a violation of UN resolutions with a strict interpretation looking over the resolutions so far.”

The sanctions committee is slated to meet for discussions on the matter as early as March 19.

The request for an examination into the North’s actions comes “with the concern that North Korea could repeat further more provocative actions in the future,” said the official.

According to a U.S. government report, Washington is asking the UN Security Council to take action against Pyongyang for launching two rounds of ballistic missiles over the course of a week, violating UN sanctions.

Under a handful of UN resolutions dating back to 2006, North Korea is prohibited from carrying out any launches that use ballistic missile technology. Subsequent resolutions, such as Security Council Resolution 2094, following North Korea’s third nuclear test in February, require the North to abandon all ballistic missile programs. The North has also been testing out new multiple-rocket launchers since Feb. 21, coinciding with the ongoing joint military drills between Seoul and Washington.

BY SARAH KIM [sarahkim@joongang.co.kr]