U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Tuesday called for renewed action against North Korea after the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un launched its latest missile test over Japan.
President Donald Trump said in a statement Tuesday that the White House is considering all options to respond to Pyongyang's show of force. The missile flew over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido and landed in the Pacific Ocean, raising security concerns in Japan.
"This outrageous action of firing a missile over our country is an unprecedented, grave, and serious threat that seriously damages peace and security in the region," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said of the missile launch. "We have firmly protested to North Korea."
Haley echoed Abe's sentiments, telling reporters that Pyongyang's actions are "unacceptable."
"No country should have missiles flying over them like those 130 million people in Japan," Haley said. "It's unacceptable."
Haley called on China and Russia to cooperate in taking action against North Korea. The U.S. last week sanctioned 10 Chinese and Russian companies for providing covert help to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.
The U.S. did, however, get China and Russia to vote for sanctions against North Korea earlier this month, as a result of its development of long-range ballistic missiles. Trump has repeatedly said that North Korean must curb its aggression, and he promised to retaliate with overwhelming force in the event of any attack or continued threats.
When a reporter asked Haley whether the U.S. would propose new sanctions on Tuesday, Haley said that she hoped China and Russia would continue to cooperate.
"I think we have a lot to talk about today," Haley said. "With all of our partners, what we hope is that China and Russia continue to work with us like they have in the past on North Korea. But I think enough is enough."
Haley aimed her comments squarely at the Kim regime for its violations of U.N. resolutions, saying "something serious" needs to be done.
"They have violated every single U.N. Security Council resolution we have had," Haley said. "I think something serious has to happen."