US 'strongly' condemns North Korea for 'long-range ballistic missile' test

WASHINGTON

The US "strongly" condemned North Korea late Wednesday for what it described as its test of “a long-range ballistic missile."

"This launch is a brazen violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions and needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region," White House National Security spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement, noting that President Joe Biden and his national security team are "assessing the situation in close coordination with our allies and partners."

"This action demonstrates that the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) continues to prioritize its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs over the well-being of its people," Watson said, urging all countries to condemn these violations and to call on North Korea to "come to the table for serious negotiations."

"The door has not closed on diplomacy, but Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilizing actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement," she said. "The United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and Republic of Korea and Japanese allies."

South Korea's military said the missile was fired from near the North Korean capital Pyongyang at around 7.23 a.m. on Thursday and landed in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, calling it a "grave provocation.”

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the missile may have been an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), adding they were continuing to analyze the launch for more details.

Following the launch of the missile, the Japanese government urged its citizens in the region to take shelter.