N.Korea voices ‘strong regret’ over UN chief’s criticism of its ICBM launch

Seoul, Nov 21 (IANS) North Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui on Monday voiced “strong regret” that the head of the United Nations condemned Pyongyang’s recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch, according to its state media.

“I express my strong regret over the fact that the UN secretary-general has taken a very deplorable attitude, oblivious of the purpose and principles of the UN Charter and its proper mission which is to maintain impartiality, objectivity and equity in all matters,” Son-hui said in a statement carried by the official KCNA.

“We recently warned the UN secretary-general to consider the issue of the Korean peninsula on the basis of impartiality and objectivity,” he was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency.

In a statement released on Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned North Korea’s firing of an ICBM earlier that day.

–IANS
int/sha