North Korea says missile launch is ‘self-defence’ amid UN backlash

NORTH Korea defended its latest missile launch, as the US demanded action against Pyongyang’s weapons programs.

NORTH Korea said its missile launches are “self-defence measures” amid international outrage, as the United States demanded action against Pyongyang’s weapons programs.

The rogue nation’s ballistic missile firing on Sunday was its first direct challenge to the international community since US President Donald Trump took office.

The missile had a range of more than 2000km, according to South Korea’s intelligence agency. It reached an altitude of about 550km and flew about 500km towards Japan before splashing into the sea east of the Korean peninsula.

North Korea fired a surface-to-surface medium long-range ballistic missile over the weekend. Picture: AFP/KCNA via KNS

The United Nations Security Council on Monday denounced the launch, urging members to “redouble efforts” to enforce sanctions against the reclusive state, but gave no indications of any action it might take.

Han Tae-song, the new Ambassador of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the UN in Geneva, addressed the UN-backed Conference on Disarmament a day after taking up his post.

“The various test fires conducted by DPRK for building up self-defence capabilities are, with no exception, self-defence measures to protect national sovereignty and the safety of the people against direct threats by hostile forces,” Han told the 61-member-state forum.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits a newly built Pyongyang Orphans' Primary School. Picture: AFP/KCNA via KNS

US Ambassador Robert Wood said: “All efforts to advance North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile capabilities must cease,” adding: “If ever there were a situation that called for international collective action to ensure our mutual security, it is this.”

China, North Korea’s main ally, said the missile launch violated Security Council resolutions but called on all parties to “exercise restraint”. The way to defuse the situation was through dialogue, China said.

Han condemned joint military exercises carried out annually by South Korea and the United States, as well as what he called “nuclear threats” and blackmail towards his country.

The news comes as Kim Jong-un’s estranged half-brother, Kim Jong-nam, was reportedly poisoned by North Korean operatives in Malaysia.

Kim Jong-nam, son of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, has reportedly been assassinated. Picture: AFP/Toshifumi Kitamura