US, Japan call emergency meeting post-missile launch

US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power announced plans for the meeting on Wednesday, shortly after a medium-range missile was fired by North Korea into the Sea of Japan.

"We expect to be calling an emergency meeting of the Security Council for later this afternoon, with our Japanese colleagues," Power said.

Her comments came just as Germany said it was planning to summon the North Korean ambassador to the Foreign Ministry in Berlin in response to the missile test.

Foreign Ministry spokesman, Martin Schäfer, said that Berlin strongly condemns Pyongyang's recent actions and its constant violations of the Security Council's binding international resolutions.

Anxiety grows in the region

Wednesday's missile launch was one of several in recent months as the US and South Korea move forward with plans to install a missile defense system on the peninsula.

The missile was launched from the western city of Unyul, flying about 620 miles (1,000 km) and landing within Tokyo's exclusive economic zone.

The launch also came as the US and South Korea are gearing up for joint exercises later this month. Some 30,000 US troops and 50,000 South Korean troops are planning to partake in the drills.

Pyongyang frequently warns the two countries of pre-emptive strikes. The government was heavily criticized by the international community after allegedly detonating a hydrogen bomb in January.

blc/kms (AP, AFP, dpa)