Following North Korea’s recent launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), a special session of the United Nations Security Council was convened on Thursday. In a rare move, North Korea has expressed its desire to speak at the meeting, and the council’s current president for July, Great Britain, plans to accommodate this request, as confirmed by Mungo Woodifield, spokesperson for Britain’s U.N. mission in New York.
The United States, Albania, France, Japan, Malta, and Britain jointly initiated the council meeting in response to North Korea’s actions.
Since 2006, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), known as North Korea, has been subjected to U.N. sanctions due to its nuclear and missile programs. These sanctions include a ban on the development of ballistic missiles.
According to state media reports, North Korea conducted a test of its latest ICBM, called Hwasong-18, on Wednesday. The nation asserts that this weapon represents the cornerstone of its nuclear strike capabilities, serving as a deterrent to the United States and other adversaries.
Notably, the Hwasong-18 is North Korea’s first ICBM to utilize solid propellants, facilitating quicker missile deployment during times of conflict. Its initial launch occurred in April.
