UN condemns North Korea missile launch, vows new sanctions

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The Security Council is strongly condemning North Korea's "flagrant and provocative defiance" of U.N. sanctions banning ballistic missile tests and again vowing to impose new sanctions.

All 15 council members, including the North's closest ally China, approved a statement Monday afternoon similar to condemnations after previous missile tests.

The council is scheduled to hold emergency closed consultations Tuesday where France's U.N. Ambassador Francois Delattre said a new sanctions resolution will be discussed.

The statement said North Korea's "illegal ballistic missile activities are significantly contributing to its development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and are greatly increasing tension in the region and beyond."

Council members vowed to fully implement all six sanctions resolution against North Korea and strongly urged all other countries to do so "in an expeditious and serious manner."