UNUnited Nations Security Council condemned three recent failed ballistic missile tests by North Korea and threatened to take further significant measures.

Tension in Northeast Asia has been high since North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and followed that with a satellite launch in February and test launches of various missiles.

Last month, the 15-member Security Council was unable to condemn two failed ballistic missile launches by North Korea in late April after Russia proposed amendments to a draft statement that had already been approved by the remaining 14 members. However, United States, Japan and others found the proposals unacceptable.

The statement issued by the Council yesterday condemned the two late April tests as well as another failed missile launch by Pyongyang on Tuesday.

Earlier in April North Korea had conducted an intermediate-range ballistic missile test and a submarine-launched ballistic missile test, which were both condemned by the Security Council at the time.