The German Government condemns the new tests conducted today by North Korea of two short-range ballistic missiles. With a series of missile tests since the beginning of the month in violation of international law, North Korea is continuing to blatantly violate its obligations under relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. At a time when global solidarity and cooperation in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic are vital, the country is jeopardising international security in an irresponsible way with the tests.

The German Government urgently calls on North Korea to abide by its obligations under international law and, in particular, to refrain from testing further ballistic missiles, as well as to accept the United States’ offer to resume the negotiations that were broken off by North Korea. North Korea remains bound to the complete, verifiable and irreversible ending of its programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.