UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting Monday on North Korea blast

North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test on Sunday – in violation of UN resolutions – which it said was an advanced hydrogen bomb for a long-range missile

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The United Nations Security Council holds a meeting about the North Korea situation on August 29. Photo: EPA

Published: 1:12pm, 4 Sep 2017Updated: 1:20pm, 4 Sep 2017

The UN Security Council will hold its second emergency meeting in a week about North Korea on Monday after a powerful nuclear test explosion added another layer of urgency for diplomats wrestling with what to do about the North’s persistent weapons programmes.

Scheduled after North Korea said it detonated a hydrogen bomb underground Sunday, the emergency session comes six days after the council strongly condemned Pyongyang’s “outrageous” launch of a ballistic missile over Japan. Less than a month ago, the council imposed its stiffest sanctions so far on the reclusive nation.

North Korea is “deliberately undermining regional peace and stability,” the council said Tuesday when it rebuked the missile test, reiterating demands for the country to halt its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programmes.

The North trumpeted “perfect success” Sunday in its sixth nuclear test blast since 2006.

Requested by the United States, Japan, France, Britain and South Korea, the Security Council meeting Monday at 10am (10pm Hong Kong time) could bring additional condemnation and discussion of other potential steps.

North Korean leaser Kim Jong-un inspects a device purportedly part of its nuclear programme. Photo: EPA