The world as a whole has come up against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) for its latest firing of a ballistic missile that flew over Japan. It was North Korea’s longest-ever weapons test, a nuclear-capable ballistic missile that flew over Japan and could reach the US Pacific territory of Guam.
The launches on Thursday were DPRK or North Korea’s sixth round of weapons firings in less than two weeks. The country has now launched over 35 ballistic missiles this year alone.
Experts said the weapon was likely a Hwasong-12 missile capable of reaching the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam and beyond. Pyongyang described its recent blast as “just counteraction measures” to the joint US and South Korean military drills. For the past two months the US, South Korea and Japan have been holding a series of combined exercises.
DPRK MISSILE; THE UN
The United Nations strongly condemned the act. In a statement, Secretary General António Guterres expressed his strong displeasure over the launch of the ballistic missile. “This was a reckless act and a violation of Security Council resolutions,” he said.
“It is also of serious concern that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has again disregarded any consideration for international flight or maritime safety,” he said. Moreover, he also urged the DPRK to resume dialogue with the key parties concerned with a view to achieving sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Meanwhile, Assistant-Secretary-General Khaled Khiari briefing ambassadors on the UN’s response to the incident, spoke about other troubling developments as North Korea “launched systems with the apparent characteristics of short-range ballistic missiles” on four recent occasions.
Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that there were indications that the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site remained active and prepared to support a nuclear test. “While some States continue to rely on nuclear weapons in their security policies, nuclear weapons pose an existential threat to humanity. Their continued existence heightens the risk of unintended escalation or miscalculation. We must strengthen our efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons,” said Mr. Khiari.
DPRK MISSILE; THE WORLD
In a Joint statement, the United States, Albania, Brazil, France, India, Ireland, Japan, Norway, the Republic of Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, strongly condemn the DPRK’s long-range ballistic missile launch which overflew Japan on October 4 and its seven other ballistic missile launches conducted since September 25.
They said that these launches violate multiple Security Council resolutions and pose a threat to not only the region, but to the entire international community.
“We call on all UN Member States, especially Council members, to join us in condemning this reckless behaviour and in urging the DPRK to abandon in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner its unlawful weapons programs and engage in diplomacy toward denuclearization. We also recall the Council’s decision in Resolution 2397 referring to further significant measures. We call on Member States to fully implement the relevant Security Council resolutions. Let us reaffirm that full implementation of the 1718 Committee mandate is necessary to effectively slow down and restrict the DPRK’s weapons advancements,” they said.
DPRK MISSILE; SOUTH KOREA
In a statement, South Korea strongly condemned the launches. It said that they were a “clear violation” of United Nations Security Council resolutions. The country said that the launches was an “unacceptable challenge” to the international community and warned of a “stronger response”.
DPRK MISSILE; INDIA
Joining the other countries, India strongly condemned the action. “We have noted with concern the reports of ballistic missile launches” by the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea), India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said at a UN Security Council meeting on DPRK on Wednesday.
“These follow the launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile by the DPRK in March this year, which was discussed in this Council, as well as other successive launches,” she said.
India also called for full implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions relating to DPRK. The country also emphasised the importance of addressing the proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies related to DPRK in the region.
DPRK MISSILE; UNITED STATES
Condemning the DPRK’s ballistic missile launch, US Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price said “Like the DPRK’s other escalatory tests this year, including at least two intercontinental ballistic missiles, this launch is a clear violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, and demonstrates the threat the DPRK’s unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs pose to the DPRK’s neighbors and the region as a whole. We stand with the international community to call on the DPRK to refrain from further provocations and engage in sustained and substantive dialogue. Our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan remains ironclad. We have been and will continue to coordinate closely with our allies and partners to address the threats posed by the DPRK, and to advance our shared objective of the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
