U.N. committee to look into N. Korea's SLBM test

NEW YORK, May 28 (Yonhap) -- A U.N. panel reported Thursday that it will look into North Korea's recent launch of a submarine-launched ballistic missile to determine whether the test violated U.N. resolutions banning Pyongyang from any ballistic missile activity.

The Security Council's North Korea Sanctions Committee made the report in a Security Council meeting. If the committee determines the North's test constitutes a violation of Security Council resolutions, it could bring more sanctions on the communist nation.

The committee's decision came after South Korea sent a letter asking it to take up the matter.

On May 9, North Korea claimed it successfully carried out an SLBM test underwater, renewing tensions on the Korean Peninsula amid concern that the North's SLBM capability, if fully developed, would pose a serious threat because its mobile nature would make it very difficult to detect preparations for a launch.

In Thursday's meeting, Security Council members differed over whether to view the North's test as a violation of U.N. resolutions, with the United States, Britain and other Western countries calling the test as a clear violation and calling for additional sanctions.

But China and Russia made no mention of the test, only saying North Korea issues should be discussed in an objective and neutral manner from the perspective of denuclearization and unification of the Korean Peninsula, according to sources.

North Korea is expected to protest the committee's decision to look into the test.
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