UNSC likely to convene emergency meeting to discuss N.K. issue early next week: source

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- The United Nations Security Council will likely convene an emergency meeting early next week to discuss countermeasures against North Korea's latest missile provocation, a government source said Saturday.

"An emergency meeting of the UNSC could be held early next week," the source said on the condition of anonymity. "But the exact date for the gathering can be determined after the weekend."

The meeting is expected to come in response to the North's claimed second successful and improved intercontinental ballistic missile test late Friday night following another one conducted on July 4.

The missile test, which runs counter to multiple UNSC sanctions resolutions, drew strong condemnation from South Korea, the U.S., Japan and even China.

In a meeting with her staff on Saturday, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha called for efforts to induce the UNSC to convene and swiftly adopt a strong sanctions resolution to punish North Korea.

Earlier this month, the UNSC failed to adopt a press statement condemning the North's ICBM launch on July 4 due apparently to opposition from Russia, one of five permanent veto-wielding council members.

kokobj@yna.co.kr
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