The United Nations Security Council has condemned and expressed grave concern over North Korea’s missile launches on Saturday.

In a statement to the media after a meeting of the council on Monday, council president Ambassador Ruhakana Rugunda of Uganda said the missile launches are a clear violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874.

The ambassador urged North Korea to fully implement all provisions of Resolution 1874.

The resolution bars the North from additional nuclear tests and any activity related to ballistic missiles.

The council meeting was held at Japan's request. A verbal statement by the council president is weaker than a written statement or a formal resolution. The verbal statement is an announcement of opinions gathered from the council’s 15 member states.