The United States will initiate a vote “in the coming days” on a UN resolution that will increase sanctions against North Korea over the resumption of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches.
Source: AR, Reuters
Details: Reuters, citing a US official, says the vote will take place, although China and Russia have expressed their disagreement.
The announcement of the vote on the future project comes as North Korea fired three missiles on Wednesday, including one believed to be its largest ICBM, after US President Joe Biden completed a trip to Asia. It was the newest, DPRK’s 17th missile launch this year.
The project “will further limit North Korea’s ability to advance its illegal WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and ballistic missile programs, it will make it easier to implement sanctions and make it even easier to deliver humanitarian aid to those in need,” the US official said.
The draft resolution cited by Reuters includes expanding the ban on launches of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as any other systems capable of delivering nuclear weapons.
North Korea came under UN sanctions in 2006, which the Security Council has consistently and unanimously enforced over the years in an effort to stop funding Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
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The last time the Security Council increased sanctions against Pyongyang was in 2017.
Background:
In March, North Korea tested a “new type” intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-17, led by North Korean leader Kim Jong-in.
In April, North Korea announced it had conducted successful tests that would “significantly improve tactical nuclear capabilities.”
Reference: China, the USA, Russia and at least five other countries are working on hypersonic technologies.
Hypersonic missiles, like traditional ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, can fly at more than five times the speed of sound. But ballistic missiles arc high into space to reach their target, while hypersonic missiles travel low in the atmosphere, potentially reaching their target faster. In addition, the hypersonic missile is highly maneuverable, making it difficult to track and defend against.
While countries like the US have developed systems designed to protect against cruise and ballistic missiles, the ability to track and destroy hypersonic missiles remains in question.