UNITED NATIONS, March 6 (UPI) -- The U.N. Security Council said North Korea remains a serious concern to international security and extended a mandate for sanctions for another 13 months.
The U.N. Security Council imposed tough sanctions on North Korea in response to nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. Sanctions were tightened further in response to a January 2013 missile test and again in response to a March 2013 nuclear test.
The Security Council said it extended for 13 months the mandate for the panel of experts charged with assessing sanctions imposed for North Korea's nuclear arms program.
The council said it determined "that proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, as well as their means of delivery, continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security."
The Yonhap News Agency in South Korea this week reported two missiles were fired from North Korea in response to joint South Korea-U.S. military drills in the region.
North Korea is accused of placing its military and nuclear programs above the welfare of its people. Last month, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said the North Korean government should face the International Criminal Court for its human rights record.
