Russian defence ministry believes missile tested on Tuesday was of medium-range and wants the US to amend its statement.
Russia has blocked a UN Security Council statement calling for “significant measures” in response to North Korea’s test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, arguing that the missile was in fact of medium range.
The United States circulated the statement for adoption by the 15-member council after announcing plans for a new sanctions resolution, but Russia raised objections, UN diplomats said.
The draft statement recalled that the council agreed to take “further significant measures” in the event of another nuclear test or missile launch and that the top UN body would “begin to work immediately on such measures”.
Russia, though, contested the statement’s reference to an intercontinental missile launched by North Korea, diplomats said.
The Russian mission to the United Nations insisted it had not blocked the statement but rather suggested that the United States “make appropriate amendments to it”.
“The Russian delegation could not agree to define the launch as an intercontinental ballistic missile test, ” the mission said, adding that the Russian defense ministry believed, based on its tracking systems, that the missile was of medium-range.
