(Source: CGTN)

The U.N. Security Council meeting comes amid a new DPRK missile testfire. Just moments before Pyongyang launched its latest ballistic missile, world powers were meeting right at the U.N. Security Council.

China’s Foreign Minister had called for restraint even as the U.S. pushed for tougher sanctions and threatened military force.

China’s urging for dialogue was in response to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s calls to further isolate the DPRK by imposing new sanctions that would further cripple Pyongyang diplomatically and financially, with military force as an option.

Since 2006, the Security Council has adopted six resolutions demanding the DPRK stop its nuclear and missile activities, but those activities have accelerated.

In the span of a year, the DPRK has carried out two nuclear tests and, in 2017 alone, has already test-fired more than half a dozen ballistic missiles.

The U.S., which convened the high-level meeting, had called out security council members for not fully implementing existing sanctions, taking careful aim at China.

But China said all parties should play a part.

That stance taken by the DPRK, and this missile test, not only shows disregard for Security Council deliberations or attempts at diplomacy, but also raises the question about whether China really has as much leverage over Pyongyang as Washington believes it does.