Brussels, 21/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 18 March, the European Union spoke out against the launch of ballistic missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and called on Pyongyang to come into line with its international obligations.
The launch “is another clear violation of several United Nations Security Council resolutions, including the latest one adopted on 2 March”, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini stated in press release.
Mogherini's spokesperson again called on North Korea to refrain from actions that increase tensions in the region and threaten international peace and security. “The DPRK must fully and rapidly comply with its international obligations, including by halting any launch using ballistic missile technology and abandoning its ballistic missile programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner”, the spokesperson added.
Mogherini's spokesperson warned that the EU would continue to follow developments closely and coordinate with its partners on how to respond to these violations of UN Security Council resolutions. On 2 March, the EU threatened to take autonomous measures towards Pyongyang, in addition to the UN measures taken after a nuclear test and the firing of a long-range missile by North Korea on 6-7 January (see EUROPE 11504). According to an official European source, “the EU is currently assessing whether further autonomous measures are needed”.
During the night of 17-18 March, North Korea twice fired prohibited ballistic missile technology. On 18 March, the UN Security Council “strongly condemned” this firing, which it described as “unacceptable” and in flagrant violation of the UN resolutions.
On Monday 21 March, North Korea is reported to have experimented by firing five short-range missiles off its eastern coast. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)