UN Security Council To Hold Emergency Meeting On North Korea Missile Launch
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An emergency meeting has been scheduled by the U.N. Security Council on North Korea's latest missile launch.
The missile Friday morning passed over Japanese airspace before landing in the Pacific Ocean. It's the second time North Korea has launched a missile over Japan in the last few weeks.
Sirens wailed over the Japanese island of Hokkaido as the missile flew overhead.
"I had no idea what it was and this loud speaker was playing all throughout the city," resident Matthew Galat said. "I translated it with my phone translator. It said, 'find shelter in a basement, North Korea just launched a missile."
The missile flew for 2,300 miles, farther than any previous North Korean missile. Had they launched it toward the south, the missile would have been able to hit U.S. military bases in Guam, about 2,100 miles away.
President Donald Trump said he was briefed on the situation.
"Numerous things happening, including North Korea," he said.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on the international community to respond with a "clear message" that North Korea should immediately stop its provocative actions.
Friday's launch appears to be in direct response to sanctions the U.N. passed Monday, which banned North Korea's textile exports and cut off about 30 percent of its oil supply.
Tom Karako with the Center for Strategic International Studies says North Korea is thumbing its nose at sanctions.
"I think that North Korea is attempting to play us here," he said. "North Korea doesn't seem to be deterred or restraining its provocations in any way."
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on China and Russia to agree to tougher sanctions.
"North Korea is now a global threat and it requires a global response from all nations," he said.
China responded saying direct talks with North Korea, not more sanctions, is the way to solve the problem.
Hours after the launch, North Korea threatened to take "stronger" actions against the U.S. if it continued to push for more sanctions.
