The Philippine government expressed serious concern over North Korea’s latest missile launch, seen as their most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) to date.
“We call on Pyongyang to commit to making meaningful progress towards the peaceful resolution of the issues facing the Korean Peninsula,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said in a statement on Wednesday.
He also said North Korea’s launching of missiles only increased tensions in the Korean Peninsula.
Cayetano also called on North Korea to cease its nuclear weapons development program, saying meaningful dialogue can only happen when they cease such provocative and highly dangerous actions.
“We also reiterate ASEAN’s readiness to play a constructive role to help reduce tensions and promote peace in the Peninsula,” Secretary Cayetano added.
North Korea successfully launched a missile on Wednesday, which splashed down off the west coast of Japan.
“Our Foreign Service Posts in Seoul, Tokyo and Osaka continue to closely monitor the situation and provide up-to-date information to our Filipino communities in these countries,” Cayetano said.
There are about 65,000 and 242,000 Filipinos living in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Japan, respectively. /kga