06/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Sunday 5 April, the EU and the United States published a joint communiqué calling on North Korea to honour its commitments and to give up its race for weapons of mass destruction as well as its policy of threatening its neighbours. This warning was followed by the launch of a North Korean missile that same morning (Pyongyang affirms it had placed a satellite into orbit). The declaration states that “regardless of the stated purpose of this launch”, it is aimed at providing North Korea with “the ability to threaten countries near and far with weapons of mass destruction”. The UN Security Council, for its part, was unable to agree on Sunday evening on a text strongly condemning North Korea's action but diplomats continue consultation. (A.B./transl.jl)