We express our strong concern at North Korea’s intention to launch a missile for the alleged purpose of putting a satellite into orbit. This move undermines the hopes created by the recently announced moratorium on the launching of long-range missiles and the plutonium enrichment process at North Korea’s nuclear facilities, in combination with the announced return of IAEA inspectors, and throws into doubt the ongoing efforts of the international community to persuade Pyongyang to return to the six-sided talks on the latter’s nuclear programme.
We call on the North Korean government not to carry out these plans and to show concrete respect for the resolutions of the Security Council and sincere will to work for the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.
March 24, 2012