PH calls on N. Korea to cease missile testing

FILE: The Department of Foreign Affairs Building along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, which used to be the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank. (Photo By Lawrence Ruiz, CC BY-SA 4.0)

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) urged anew the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) or North Korea to discontinue its ballistic missile launches.

“The Philippines expresses serious concern and strongly denounces the recent ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” the DFA said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Such provocative actions undermine economic progress, peace, and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region.

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South Korea’s military reported that Pyongyang launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles from Wonsan, its eastern coastal city, on May 8.

North Korea may have tested the performance and stability of the missiles, which flew up to 800 km. before hitting the sea.

“We renew our call on the DPRK to promptly cease these activities and abide by all international obligations, including relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, and to commit to peaceful and constructive dialogue,” the DFA said.

A top United Nations (UN) official has already warned that North Korea “is ramping up its nuclear and missile program in defiance of international law” as it moves into the final year of its military plan.

Such action is a violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions promoting global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime.