(VOVworld) - The UN Security Council on Tuesday strongly condemned North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches and expressed serious concern over Pyongyang's increasingly destabilizing behavior.

A meeting of the UN Security Council (Source: THX/VNA)

The strong condemnation came in a US-drafted statement that was unanimously approved by the council, including China. The Security Council also warned of stricter sanctions against on North Korea.

Previously, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said North Korea’s actions violate Security Council resolutions and seriously undermine regional peace and stability. He called on Pyongyang to refrain from further provocations.

China on Tuesday reiterated its opposition to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in South Korea. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang urged related parties concerned to stop deployment and refrain from going too far along the wrong track. He said China would take steps to maintain their securities interests.

The same day, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the US’ deployment of THAAD in South Korea will take the situation in North Korea to a deadlock.

On Monday morning, North Korea launched 4 missiles, three of which fell into Japanese waters, as a retaliation against joint military exercises between the US and South Korea. This action led to the US’ deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in South Korea, followed by strong opposition from Russia and China.