The United Nations Security Council has unanimously condemned the latest firing of ballistic missiles over Japan by North Korea, describing the action as an outrageous threat. The Council which made its position known in a statement issue on Tuesday called on North Korea to abandon all nuclear weapons and programmes and desist from launching further missiles. The statement said it was vital that North Korea takes concrete steps to reduce tension in the region.

North Korea on Tuesday fired a mid-range ballistic missile designed to carry a nuclear payload that flew over Japan’s northern Hokkaido Island and splashed into the northern Pacific Ocean, Reuters reports. The test, one of the most provocative from the reclusive regime came as Washington and Seoul conduct war games nearby, provoking Pyongyang which sees the military exercise as a preparation for invasion.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Iran of building sites in Syria and Lebanon for the manufacturing of precision-guided missiles with the sole purpose of attacking Israel. Netanyahu stated this on Monday, hours before meeting Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary General who is on his maiden visit to the charged region since his election into the UN early this year.

The United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has accused Israel of frustrating a two-state solution and peace deal with the Palestinians.  Guterres who stated this on Tuesday after meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah in the West Bank City of Ramallah, described the continued settlement construction by Israel in the contentious area as illegal.

South Korea's Air force on Tuesday conducted live-fire drills hours after North Korea fired an unidentified missile over Japan. CNN reports that the drill simulated the destruction of the leadership of North Korea. The report quoted South Korea's Presidential spokesman, Yoon Young-chan as announcing that four F-15K jetfighters had dropped eight MK 84 bombs on a simulated target at the Taebaek Pilsung Firing Range in the country's northeastern Gangwon province, about five hours drive from Seoul.

Emerging reports indicate that about 34 houses located in Southwest China were destroyed by a deadly landslide on Monday. According to Xinhua news agency, the incident led to the death of two persons while over 25 others are still missing. The report added that rescuers deployed to the affected area pulled out six persons from the rubble before medical officials confirmed two dead.