|
UNITED NATIONS, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Security Council Tuesday strongly condemned the recent ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and urged the country to "refrain from further actions."
The 15-nation UN body stressed in a press statement that the March 5 missile launches are in grave violation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's international obligations" under relevant Security Council resolutions.
Pyongyang shall "comply fully with its obligations under these resolutions," it added.
Under the Security Council resolutions, Pyongyang was banned from testing any ballistic missile technology. Its latest test-firings have sparked strong condemnation from a string of countries.
"The Security Council deplore all the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's ballistic missile activities, including these launches," which "contribute to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension in the region," according to the statement.
The UN body further regretted that the DPRK "is diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles while Democratic People's Republic of Korea citizens have great unmet needs," the statement said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday also condemned the firing, as "such actions violate Security Council resolutions and seriously undermine regional peace and stability."
According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the DPRK fired four ballistic missiles into east waters at about 7:36 a.m. local time (2236 GMT on Sunday). The missiles flew eastward some 1,000 km on average, and three of them fell into Japan's exclusive economic zone.
On Feb. 12, Pyongyang successfully test-launched a new type of Pukguksong-2 intermediate range ballistic missile reportedly under the supervision of top leader Kim Jong Un.
