The Federal Government vehemently condemns today’s test by North Korea of two short-range ballistic missiles. Following thirteen tests last year, North Korea has thereby once again violated its obligations under relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. With the latest test, North Korea is irresponsibly jeopardising international security.

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