UN Security Council holds emergency meeting on North Korea (Photo: VNA)

The US called for strong additional sanctions against Pyongyang, supported by the UK and France, but opposed by China and Russia. US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley warned that the US will take military action against North Korea if necessary, calling North Korea’s missile launch on Tuesday a clear and sharp military escalation.

Russian Ambassador to the UN Pyotr Ilyichev said military action should be excluded and that even economic sanctions on North Korea are unacceptable. He said Russia is working on restoring a dialogue to resolve North Korea’s issues.