US, Japan, South Korea condemn N Korea tests; US widens sanctions

The vetoes by China and Russia at the United Nations came despite what the US says was a sixth test of an intercontinental ballistic missile by North Korea this year and signs that Pyongyang is preparing to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017 [File: Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters]

The United States, Japan and South Korea have strongly condemned North Korea’s recent ballistic missile launches in a joint statement that followed a US move to impose sanctions on those associated with Pyongyang’s weapons programme.

A US-led effort to tighten United Nations sanctions on the North after it carried out nearly two dozen missile launches this year, was vetoed by Russia and China on Thursday.