UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, North Korea announced it had successfully launched the Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite atop a long-range rocket.
"Given that North Korea continues to develop nuclear weapons under previous UN sanctions, it has become clear by now, that the current level of sanctions cannot put a brake on North Korea’s nuclear weapons development," Liu said after a UN extraordinary session over Pyongyang's long-range rocket and satellite launch.
Tensions over North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs escalated after Pyongyang said on January 6 that it had successfully carried out a hydrogen bomb test, triggering condemnation from the international community and prompting the UN Security Council to begin drafting an anti-DPRK resolution.
North Korea previously reported a successful satellite launch in 2012, in violation of the UN Security Council resolution.
