Statement by the Spokesperson on the launch of a ballistic missi

Earlier today, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) launched a ballistic missile in flagrant violation of multiple United Nations Security Council Resolutions. The DPRK’s own claims that it, in fact, launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, are as yet unverified. We expect the DPRK to halt all launches using ballistic missile technology and to abandon once and for all its ballistic missile programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, as required by the United Nations Security Council.

The High Representative/Vice-President, Federica Mogherini will speak in the coming days to the Foreign Ministers of international partners to discuss the international response, including the possibility of further U.N. Security Council measures, as called for by the President of the Republic of Korea, Moon Jae-in. The European Union, for its part, will consider an appropriate response, in close consultation with key partners and in line with U.N. Security Council deliberations, including possible additional restrictive measures.

The European Union expects the DPRK to refrain from any action that could further increase regional tensions and engage, in good faith, in a credible dialogue with the international community aimed at pursuing the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and full implementation of all relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. The European Union is ready to support such a process for dialogue.