North Korean ambassador makes rare appearance at UN, blames US for escalation

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The North Korean ambassador to the United States spoke before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday. 

Ambassador Kim Song defended North Korea's test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on Wednesday, calling it a legitimate exercise in national self-defense. 

"Exercise of the right to self-defense is a legitimate right of a sovereign state which nobody can deny as it is recognized under the UN Charter and international law," Kim said. 

NORTH KOREA REQUESTS TO SPEAK AT UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING CALLED IN RESPONSE TO ITS LATEST MISSILE LAUNCH

Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan speaks during a U.N. Security Council meeting at the United Nations headquarters on July 13, 2023, in New York City. The U.N. Security Council met to discuss the latest suspected intercontinental ballistic missile fired by North Korea after the country threatened retaliation against what they say are recent U.S. spy plane incursions over its territory. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

"Moreover, our test-fire of a new type ICBM "Hwasongpho-18" is a warranted exercise of the right to self-defense to deter dangerous military moves of the hostile forces and to safeguard the security of our state and peace in the region without fail," the ambassador added.

It was the first speech from the hermit kingdom in front of the UNSC in approximately a decade.

South Korea’s U.N. Ambassador Hwang Joon-kook was present at the meeting as an observing member.

North Korea on Wednesday fired a submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile toward the East Sea, reigniting perennial tensions in the region.

NORTH KOREA FIRES INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE TOWARD EAST SEA: SOUTH KOREA MILITARY

Chair of the delegation of North Korea, Kim Song, speaks during General debate of the 74th session of the U.N. General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images)

South Korea's joint chiefs of staff announced in a statement that it detected the ballistic missile launch near the North's capital of Pyongyang, just days after the hermit nation promised "shocking" consequences to protest what it called a provocative U.S. reconnaissance activity near its territory.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, accused the U.S. of sending spy planes over the North’s exclusive economic zone, the area within 200 nautical miles of its territory where it controls rights to natural resources.

Members of the U.N. Security Council hold a meeting at the United Nations headquarters on July 13, 2023 in New York City. The U.N. Security Council met to discuss the latest suspected intercontinental ballistic missile fired by North Korea after the country threatened retaliation against what they say are recent U.S. spy plane incursions over its territory. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

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Kim Yo Jong said a U.S. spy plane crossed the eastern sea boundary between the Koreas at around 5 a.m. Monday and conducted reconnaissance activities over the North’s exclusive economic zone before being chased away by North Korean warplanes.

She also said the U.S. aircraft crossed the eastern sea boundary again at around 8:50 a.m., prompting North Korea’s military to issue an unspecified "strong warning" toward the United States.