Ban increasingly concerned about reported missile launches by DPR Korea

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is increasingly concerned about the successive reports of new launches of ballistic missiles by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), according to his spokesperson.

“Such launches are contrary to building trust in the region,” the spokesperson stated yesterday.

“The Secretary-General urges the DPRK to cease its ballistic missile activities and focus, together with other countries concerned, on the dialogue and diplomacy necessary to maintain regional peace and security.”

DPRK reportedly test fired two medium-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday from a site north of the capital, Pyongyang, into the sea off its eastern coast. Several launches of short-range ballistics have been conducted in recent weeks, according to media reports.

The UN Security Council, which has imposed a series of sanctions on Pyongyang in recent years over its nuclear activities, is scheduled to discuss the matter in a closed-door session later today.