Japan pushed the UN Security Council on Tuesday to consider fresh sanctions against North Korea for test-firing a series of ballistic missiles that it said were a threat to the region and the entire world.
The council strongly condemned the series of launches on Friday and agreed in a unanimous statement backed by China to take "further significant measures."
"The number of provocative actions taken by North Korea has been phenomenal," said Japanese Ambassador Kero Bessho following a closed-door meeting of the council.
Bessho stressed that the high number of launches had led to "quite noteworthy" advances in North Korea's nuclear and missile technology programs.
"This presents a serious threat to the region and the world as a whole," he told reporters.
North Korea has been hit by five sets of UN sanctions since it first tested a nuclear device in 2006.
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