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UN Security Council Condemns NKorea’s New Missile Launches

A new multiple launch rocket system is test fired in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang March 4, 2016. REUTERS/KCNA ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. SOUTH KOREA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SOUTH KOREA

UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday strongly condemned the latest North Korean missile launches, calling them “a grave violation” of its sanctions resolutions.

The United Nations’ most powerful body said it deplored all North Korean ballistic missile activity, which contributes to improving its missile delivery systems and increases tensions in the region and beyond.

The tests risk a regional arms race, the council added.

In press statement issued Tuesday night, the council also expressed serious concern over North Korea’s “increasingly destabilizing behavior” and defiance of council resolutions.

The council said its member nations would continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures. It already has imposed six rounds of increasingly tougher sanctions on North Korea.

The statement urged the United Nations’ 193 member states “to redouble their efforts to implement” the sanctions.