Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano. AP FILE PHOTO
The Philippine government urged North Korea on Wednesday to call off its announced plans to conduct more ballistic missile test launches to avoid further raising tensions in the region.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano asked the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea (DPRK) to “heed the calls” of the international community as the reclusive state warned of more ballistic missile tests in the Pacific.
READ: North Korea leader urges more missile launches targeting Pacific
“The Philippines urges the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) to heed the calls of the international community to avoid taking provocative actions that contribute to nothing but heightened tensions not just in the Korean Peninsula but also in the rest of the Asia-Pacific Region,” Cayetano said in a statement.
“The Philippines and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), however, continue to be willing to play a constructive role in creating an environment that would help achieve peace and stability in our part of the world,” Cayetano added.
Pyongyang launched its first intermediate-range ballistic missile on Tuesday, which crossed over Japan’s northern Hokkaido island.
Cayetano earlier called on North Korea to halt such “dangerous and provocative actions” and instead start dialogue with its neighbors in the Asia-Pacific Region. IDL
BACKSTORY: DFA calls on N. Korea to halt dangerous missile attacks