We condemn in the strongest possible terms yesterday’s illegal launch of several short-range ballistic missiles by North Korea.

The missile launches constitute yet another grave violation of the conditions set out in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. They pose a blatant threat to security on the Korean Peninsula and in the entire region.

We urge North Korea to refrain from further missile launches, to fulfil its obligations under international law, to accept the offers of dialogue put forward by the United States and South Korea and to enter into serious negotiations on the dismantling of its illegal nuclear and missile programmes. North Korea is under an obligation to completely, verifiably and irreversibly end its programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.