Pyongyang accuses Washington of "double standards" over missile tests

Pyongyang Thursday accused the United States of "double standards" over weapons tests, North Korean media reported, a day after an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the issue.

Pyongyang launched a new strategic sea-surface ballistic missile (SLBM ) on Tuesday, the latest in a series of new tests, prompting the United Nations to convene a meeting at the request of Washington and London.

A North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said the test was not aimed at the United States and was conducted "for the country's defense only."

"Therefore, there is no need for the United States to be concerned about the test launch of the missile," the spokesman added in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

The diplomat added that US criticism of Pyongyang for "developing and testing firing the same weapons system that the US possesses or is developing is a clear expression of double standards."

He stressed that this "only reinforces our doubts" about the sincerity of the US statements, which confirm that they do not have aggressive intentions towards the Kim Jong-un regime.

Kim met former US President Donald Trump three times but failed to reach an agreement to end North Korea's nuclear programme.

Talks have been stalled since the failed Hanoi summit in early 2019.

President Joe Biden pledged to continue the diplomatic track, but take a more conservative approach and look for areas of progress