UN urges North Korea to hold meaningful talks with US

UNITED NATIONS

The UN held a Security Council meeting Thursday after North Korea's latest missile launch.

Britain, France and Germany urged Pyongyang to hold meaningful talks with the U.S. on its missile programs.

"International sanctions need to remain in place and be fully enforced until North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs are dismantled," UK Ambassador Karen Pierce said.

“It is vital that the Security Council shows unity in upholding its resolutions,” she said.

The missiles were launched from the same eastern area as the North's most recent tests Wednesday and the Thursday before last, although Pyongyang earlier insisted that Wednesday's firings involved a new rocket launch system rather than missiles.

North Korea's state media also previously cautioned that its recent launches were a warning to South Korea ahead of this month's planned military drills with the United States.

While the U.S. has played down the significance of Pyongyang's short-range projectiles, the North is barred from testing ballistic missiles under UN Security Council resolutions.

*Writing by Dilara Hamit