Beijing showed its impatience over North Korea’s continued illegal missile launches as the United Nations security council threatened more sanctions…

Beijing showed its impatience over North Korea’s continued illegal missile launches as the United Nations security council threatened more sanctions against Kim Jong-un’s regime, which is believed to be preparing for a further nuclear test

President Xi Jinping of China underscored Beijing’s commitment to enforcing existing UN sanctions on North Korea and to preventing any instability on its doorstep

“As a close neighbour we will never allow war or chaos on the [Korean] peninsula,” he told a meeting of regional foreign ministers in Beijing

The UN security council on Thursday held urgent closed-door consultations after North Korea’s unsuccessful launch earlier in the day of two medium-range missiles

The North has now made three bids in two weeks to test-fly a Musudan missile, which is capable of striking US bases on the Pacific island of Guam

“We are looking at a response,” said China’s ambassador, Liu Jieyi, who holds the security council presidency for April

Security council diplomats warned North Korea to expect a response after Pyongyang’s repeated failed attempts to test-fire a powerful ballistic missile, the latest defiance of UN resolutions

The Japanese ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa said Tokyo condemned the “grave and very clear violations” of UN resolutions that comprised a direct threat to Japan’s national security

The 15-member council was unanimous in condemning the latest launches, Yoshikawa said

UN resolutions bar North Korea from developing any ballistic missile-related technology, and South Korea said it would push for fresh penalties

Diplomats said they expected the council to issue a statement on Friday after the Chinese delegation requested time to consult with officials in Beijing

South Korea said a first launch on Thursday of what was understood to be a Musudan missile saw the rocket plunge back to earth seconds after take-off

A second attempt in the evening – again of a Musudan – also appeared to have failed, a defence ministry official said

An initial effort on 15 April – the birthday of late founding leader Kim Il-sung – ended in what the Pentagon described as “fiery, catastrophic” failure, with the missile apparently exploding just after take-off

South Korean military officials say the North is desperate to register a successful launch ahead of next week’s ruling party congress, at which Kim Jong-un is expected to take credit for pushing ahead with the country’s nuclear programme