Politics
13:08, 20-Jul-2017
Russia, US debate DPRK long-range missile testing before UN
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The United States and Russia are waging rival campaigns at the United Nations over the type of ballistic missile fired by DPRK earlier this month, according to Reuters.
The move comes as the US pushes to impose tougher sanctions on Pyongyang over the test.
US ambassador Nikki Haley argued that Pyongyang fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at an intelligence briefing on Monday, which was attended by Russia and China.
Earlier on July 8, Russia sent a brief letter and diagram to the 15-member Security Council, saying that its radars determined the missile launched by Pyongyang on July 4 was medium ranged.
Russia's statement hindered Washington's push for the Security Council to impose stronger sanctions on North Korea.
China and Russia only view a long-range missile test or nuclear weapon test as a trigger for further possible U.N. sanctions.
North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its ballistic missile and nuclear programs and the Security Council had ratcheted up the measures in response to five nuclear weapons tests and two long-range missile launches.
Shortly after North Korea's July 4 missile launch Russia objected to a Security Council condemnation because a U.S.-drafted press statement labeled it an ICBM.
(With input from Reuters)
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