An urgent closed door meeting of the United Nations Security Council is to be held later today at the request of the the United States. It follows North Korea’s latest missile launch.

A session of the 15 member council has been scheduled for 3 pm New York time.

Although US military experts are still analysing data, they believe Tuesday’s launch was that of an intercontinental ballistic missile. From the distance it flew there are concerns that Alaska may now be within range.

The US state department has called for global action and tougher sanctions to rein in Pyongyang’s weapons ambitions.

Meanwhile China and Russia which share a border with North Korea have urged the US and South Korea to suspend large scale military exercises in the region while calling for a freeze on Kim Jong-un’s nuclear programme.

North Korea has just launched another missile. Does this guy have anything better to do with his life? Hard to believe that South Korea…..— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2017


....and Japan will put up with this much longer. Perhaps China will put a heavy move on North Korea and end this nonsense once and for all!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2017