PH joins nations in condemning North Korea missile launch

The Philippine government on Tuesday joined the international community in criticizing North Korea’s latest missile launch.

“The Philippines condemns DPRK’s latest missile launch on 24 August 2016 and the resumption of its processing of weaponizable nuclear materials and nuclear testing,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“These actions seriously undermine regional peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula. We reiterate our call on the DPRK to comply with its international obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions and commit to the process of constructive dialogue,” it said.

The United Nations Security Council earlier condemned the act and said that it will have to take “significant measures” in response to the test firing of ballistic missiles.

READ: UN condemns 4 North Korean ballistic missile launches

Despite the UN’s previous sanctions, North Korea has continued to carry out several missile launches, with one missile falling into Japanese-controlled waters.

The UN asked all its member states to “redouble their efforts” in enforcing sanctions against the heaviliy-criticized country.

In return, North Korea called the council’s statement “a hostile act” and an attempt to deter the country from its “legitimate right to self-defense.”

“This is an illegal action taken by the world body to side with the U.S. in the acute standoff between the DPRK and the US without an iota of impartiality,” North Korea’s foreign ministry said.

In August, the Philippines issued a similar statement, calling on North Korea to “comply with its international obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions and to the process of constructive dialogue.” RAM/rga

READ: PH condemns North Korea missile launch