The Philippine government demanded that North Korea "immediately cease" its missile testing in response to its most recent round of short-range ballistic missile launches into the East Sea.
“The Philippines expresses serious concern and strongly denounces the continuing ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK),” the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
“We reiterate our call for the DPRK to immediately cease these activities and abide by all international obligations, including relevant UN (United Nations) Security Council Resolutions, and to commit to peaceful and constructive dialogue,” DFA added.
Lasting peace in the region
The Philippines also called for lasting peace in the region and the Korean peninsula pursuant to the international community’s calls for denuclearization.
“The Philippines wants to see lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and echoes the calls of the international community for a complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of DPRK,” the DFA said.
The ballistic missile tests came less than a week after North Korea claimed to have successfully tested the new Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile.
These missiles could theoretically reach the US mainland if fired at a standard angle.
Provokes tension
The Philippine government has stressed that North Korea's missile launch "increases tensions and threatens peace, stability, and economic advancement in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region."
South Korea also added that the second missile most likely exploded in midair shortly after launch.
Because there are at least 60,000 Filipino workers in South Korea, the Philippines has long been concerned about the instability in the Korean Peninsula. About 242,000 Filipinos in Japan are also thought to be impacted by the conflict's escalation.
