UN council moves forward with disputed meeting on North Korean human rights abuses

Representatives from the United Nations Security Council will meet this month to discuss human rights abuses in North Korea, despite China’s previous disapproval.

The meeting comes after Chinese officials moved in previous years to block three prior meetings on the topic with a procedural vote, Reuters reported. A minimum of nine votes is needed to pass such a motion, and vetoes are not usable.

This year, the meeting is supported by nine members: United States, France, Britain, Italy, Japan, Senegal, Sweden, Ukraine and Uruguay.

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North Korea has repeatedly rejected claims of human rights abuses by the U.S. and its allies. Earlier in November, North Korea’s envoy to the U.N. condemned the meeting in a statement.

“Despite persistent sanctions and pressure by the U.S. and other hostile forces, my government concentrates all its efforts on improving people’s livelihood and providing them with a better future,” the envoy said in a statement.

The meeting comes after months of tensions over North Korea’s nuclear program. President Trump has escalated his warnings to North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, including calling Kim “Rocket Man” during his inaugural U.N. address.

On Tuesday night, the country announced it had conducted a missile test of a Hwasong-15 ballistic missile that officials from the country say is capable of reaching the entire U.S. mainland.

Defense Secretary James Mattis said the latest missile test flew higher than any of North Korea’s previous attempts before it landed on a water target in the Sea of Japan.