- Title: U.S warns North Korea of further isolation following missile threats
- Date: 30th May 2017
- Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (MAY 30, 2017) (REUTERS) UNITED NATIONS BUILDING U.N. CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT IN PROGRESS MEMBER STATES' REPRESENTATIVES, AMONG THEM U.S. DISARMAMENT AMBASSADOR ROBERT WOOD WOOD LISTENING MEMBER STATES' REPRESENTATIVES (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DISARMAMENT AMBASSADOR ROBERT WOOD SAYING: "The United States will pursue an aggressive international diplomatic campaign, to further isolate the regime in Pyongyang, and calls on all countries concerned about North Korea's nuclear saber-rattling in flagrant violations of international law, to join us in this effort. Pyongyang's growing nuclear and ballistic missile threats put at serious risk strategic stability around the globe and cannot go unchallenged." VARIOUS OF NORTH KOREAN DIPLOMAT JU YONG CHOL LISTENING SOUTH KOREA DISARMAMENT AMBASSADOR KIM INCHUL LISTENING MEMBER STATES' REPRESENTATIVES, AMONG THEM INCHUL (SOUNDBITE) (English) NORTH KOREAN DIPLOMAT JU YONG CHOL SAYING: "The unjustifiable behavior of the United States and its followers of taking issue with the self-defense measures of the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) will only result in further pushing the DPRK to redouble its efforts to diversify and modernise its nuclear deterrence." U.N. CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT IN PROGRESS MEMBER STATES' REPRESENTATIVES (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH KOREA DISARMAMENT AMBASSADOR KIM INCHUL SAYING: "Why would anyone, what would be the reason for anyone, to attack North Korea? They have to give answers to that, and we never heard that. So, I respectfully ask the representative of North Korea 'why would anyone want to attack North Korea?'" MEMBER STATES' REPRESENTATIVES, AMONG THEM JAPAN DISARMAMENT AMBASSADOR NOBUSHIGE TAKAMIYAWA MEMBER STATES' REPRESENTATIVES LISTENING PRESS OFFICERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) NORTH KOREAN DIPLOMAT JU YONG CHOL SAYING (AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING): "And to that question raised by South Korea, I don't feel there is a need to answer that, but clearly, they should tell the international world, international community, explain the reason why they staged large-scale military exercises with the United States on an annual basis, under pretext of self-defense oriented, but in fact it is aimed at launching pre-emptive attack to the DPRK." UNITED NATIONS BUILDING
- Embargoed: 13th June 2017 12:51
- Keywords: ballistic missile Kim Jong-Un US South Korea Pyongyang
- Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
- Reuters ID: LVA0016J163IF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PLEASE NOTE: PART AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
U.S. envoy for disarmament Robert Wood warned North Korea on Tuesday (May 30) at a U.N. forum that it was facing growing isolation from the international community, following the launch of a new ballistic missile controlled by a precision guidance system.
The North's test launch on Monday (May 29) of a short-range ballistic missile that landed in the sea off its east coast was the third such launch in the past three weeks, and the 11th since the beginning of 2017.
Such launches, including two nuclear tests since January 2016, have been conducted in defiance of U.S. pressure, U.N. resolutions and the threat of more sanctions.
The United States, joined by South Korea, Japan and several other states denounced these missile launches as a provocation, and urged Pyongyang to stop them.
North Korea diplomat Ju Yong Chol defended the strategy, saying the reclusive state would develop more powerful weapons in multiple phases in accordance with its timetable for self-defence against U.S.-South Korea drills that Pyongyang considers preparation for war. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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