UN Council condemns N.Korea over missile launches

The UN Security Council on Thursday condemned North Korea for recently launching several rounds of short-range ballistic missiles.

"The members of the Security Council condemn these launches as violations of Security Council resolutions," said Eugene Richard Gasana, the Rwandan chair of the 15-member council.

North Korea on Sunday fired two missiles in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) that followed similar launches over the past two weeks, despite UN resolutions barring Pyongyang from carrying out such tests.

"The members of the Security Council noted that the DPRK has launched three rounds of Scud short-range ballistic missiles in late June and early July," Gasana told reporters.

The council urged North Korea to "fully comply" with UN demands to stop the launches, said Gasana, but he did not specify whether it would consider further steps.

Already under crippling sanctions since 2006, Pyongyang was hit by fresh UN punitive measures in March 2013 over its third nuclear test.