The Federal Government condemns in the strongest possible terms North Korea’s failed launch on 31 May of a military satellite using ballistic missile technology. The missile launch is a serious violation of the obligations set out by the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and endangers the security both of our partners in the region and of the world. It also poses a risk to international air traffic and international shipping.

The German Government urgently calls on North Korea to abide by its obligations under international law, to accept the offers of talks put forward by the United States and South Korea and to enter into serious negotiations on the dismantling of its nuclear and missile programmes. North Korea remains bound to the complete, verifiable and irreversible ending of its programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.