Security Council expected to hold talks on N Korea test

The UN Security Council is expected to hold-closed door talks Friday on North Korea's test of a sea-launched missile, diplomats said, at the request of European powers who are pushing for the world body to keep up the pressure on Pyongyang.

North Korea claimed to have entered a new phase in its defence capability with the test Wednesday of a submarine-launched ballistic missile -- the most provocative since Pyongyang began a dialogue with Washington in 2018.

The demand for closed-door talks was made by Britain, France and Germany, as the United States and North Korea prepare to resume nuclear talks this week.

The European nations consider the test a violation of UN resolutions, and pressed the US delegation to have the council take it up, one diplomat said.

"The Americans do not want a formal meeting" so the Europeans asked for a closed-door session, said another diplomat, also speaking on condition of anonymity.

President Donald Trump, who says he has a great relationship with Kim Jong Un, has shied from criticizing North Korea over its missile tests as the two sides seek an agreement for the North to give up its nuclear weapons.

"We are deeply concerned and we need to bring this back to the Security Council. This is another clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions," the first diplomat said.

"This test is not neutral, and the Security Council should be able to discuss it," the second one said.

In late August, Britain, France and Germany sought a meeting of the Security Council after North Korea tested a new "super large" multiple rocket launcher.

But in the end those three members of the council simply issued a statement calling for continued international sanctions against Pyongyang.

North Korea is under three sets of UN sanctions adopted in 2017 in an effort to force it to give up its nuclear and ballistic weapons programmes.

The sanctions limit North Korea's oil imports and impose bans linked to its exports of coal, fish and textiles.

Since the US-North Korea talks began, Russia and China have been calling for the UN to start lifting sanctions so as to create momentum towards the North's denuclearisation. But the United States has refused.