At this new meeting, in addition to an exchange of information, there should be renewed pressure on western China to seek a joint declaration on North Korean experiments, with Pyongyang’s close support. “We need a very short statement on these experiments to show the council’s solidarity with North Korea,” said an unnamed diplomat.

Beijing has refused to join any joint gesture of the Security Council after the UN imposed three rounds of international economic sanctions on Pyongyang since 2017. Russia, backed by Russia, has even drafted a resolution to ease sanctions on humanitarian grounds, which remain a dead letter.

Satellite or missile?

On Sunday, North Korea announced that it had conducted a “major new test” for the development of an intelligence satellite, but analysts believe it was a missile launch just days before South Korea’s presidential election.

In January, Pyongyang conducted seven weapons tests in January, including the most powerful missile since 2017, claiming last week that it had conducted a test for the development of an intelligence satellite. Seoul later talked about a ballistic missile.