08 March 2017•Update: 17 March 2017
By Canberk Yuksel
NEW YORK
The UN Security Council on Tuesday "strongly condemned" ballistic missile launches by North Korea.
In a longer-than-usual statement, the Council said its members "deplore" the North's ballistic missile activities which "increase tension in the region and beyond as well as the risk of a regional arms race".
It urged members to sanction North Korea as per UN resolutions, and encouraged them to report the actions they have taken to that effect.
Defying the international community, the reclusive island nation test-fired four missiles on March 5, three of which landed in waters belonging to Japan's exclusive economic zone.
The measure prompted the U.S. -- a close ally of South Korea and Japan -- to begin the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD).
The controversial anti-missile system, intended to destroy short and medium-range missiles as they approach their target, has been a source of tension between China and the U.S.
North Korea's launches mark the second missile challenge from the country since U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in. The North tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile on Feb. 12.
In phone calls on Monday with leaders of Japan and South Korea, Trump reiterated the U.S.' "ironclad commitment", according to the White House.
North Korea faced severe sanctions from the UN Security Council for a series of launches last year, in addition to two nuclear tests.
