United States asks U.N. Security Council to meet on North Korea missile that can reach Guam

The United States has called on the United Nations Security Council to meet this week to discuss the launch of a new North Korean missile Pyongyang previously boasted has the capability to reach Guam.

US diplomats, along with representatives from Britain and France, have requested a meeting of the Security Council in the coming days to tackle the issue of North Korea’s Hwasong-12 ballistic missile, with which Pyongyang said earlier this week has the ability to reach US military bases in Guam and Japan. The Security Council members wish to meet amid fears North Korea may resume its long-range missile testing.

The launch of the intermediate-range ballistic missile by North Korea was announced on Monday by Japanese and South Korean authorities. The launch is the seventh in a month, and the first time Pyongyang has tested a long-range missile since 2017. 

As of Thursday, the Security Council had a meeting titled “Consultations (P.M) – Non-proliferation/DPRK,” on its calendar for Friday, which may indicate the closed-door meeting the United States requested has been scheduled.