Roundup: Global outcry over DPRK missile tests

Countries across the world on Wednesday expressed deep concern about the missile tests conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), considering the move detrimental to regional peace and stability.

Members of the six-party talks except the DPRK all reacted swiftly to the tests.

The South Korean government issued a statement expressing "deep regret" over the launching of the missiles, including the long-range Taepodong-2 missile and the Rodong missiles.

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun called an emergency meeting of security ministers.

Russia said such actions went against the expectations of the international community interested in strengthening regional peace and stability and could complicate the prospects for settling the nuclear issue in the Korean Peninsula.

Japan lodged a stern protest, considering as provocative the launch of the missiles, which all fell on the Sea of Japan.

In reaction, Japan's cabinet decided on Wednesday to impose a set of sanctions against the DPRK, including banning the DPRK's ferry Mangyongbong-92, the only direct passenger link between the two countries, from calling at Japanese ports for six months.

Among the most stern responses, the White House strongly condemned the test-firing of the missiles, including a long-range one capable of reaching U.S. soil, but said they did not pose a danger to America.

"We do consider it provocative behavior," U.S. national security adviser Stephen Hadley said.

In Beijing, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Wednesday that China is "seriously concerned" over the tensions caused by the missile test-firing by the DPRK.

He urged the parties concerned to keep calm and show restraint. Liu added that more efforts should be made to promote peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and northeast Asia. He said any actions that might further intensify and complicate the situation should be avoided.

China has made unremitting efforts to ease the tensions in the Korean Peninsula, maintain regional peace and stability and push forward the negotiation process of the six-party talks, Liu said.

"We'll continue to work together with all the other parties and play a constructive role," Liu said.

France strongly condemned Wednesday the missile tests, expressing the worry that "such missiles could carry weapons of mass destruction."

"France condemns the missile tests carried out by the DPRK," the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Also in Paris, Visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said Wednesday that the missile tests carried out by the DPRK was a very unfortunate development.

"It's a very unfortunate development...We know that proliferation is a major international concern," Kasuri told reporters in Paris.

Southeastern Asian countries also voiced their worries about the missile tests.

The Philippines called on Pyongyang to stop.

"We hope that Pyongyang will not pursue this and that the powerful countries and the United Nations will be in a position to stop this," presidential spokesman Eduardo Ermita told reporters at the presidential palace.

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday that the city state deeply regretted the test-launch of several missiles by the DPRK.

"This will have serious repercussions on regional peace and stability. Singapore urges Pyongyang to cease such provocative actions and return to the six-party talks," the brief statement said.

In a more direct approach, Indonesia sent a presidential envoy to Pyongyang on Wednesday afternoon, in an attempt to ease tensions.

The chief of the Indonesian House of Parliament's Commission I, Theo Sambuaga, called on the DPRK Wednesday to stop its missile test firings to avoid suspicions and retaliation by countries feeling threatened by the action.

European countries also joined the chorus of global concern.

Britain described the DPRK missile tests as "provocative" and said they would raise tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.

Finland, which holds the rotating European Union (EU) presidency, issued on Wednesday a declaration on behalf of the EU.

"The EU strongly condemns the provocative missile test-launches performed by the government of the DPRK. These tests, which also included long-range missile systems that can be used to deliver weapons of mass destruction, place additional strains on regional stability at a time when the unresolved nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula requires mutual confidence building," the declaration said.

"The tests run counter to the spirit of the Joint Declaration adopted in the Six-Party talks in September 2005," it added.

The EU urged the DPRK to return to the talks without preconditions and to cooperate fully in implementing the Joint Declaration.

Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana strongly condemned the tests and said they ran "contrary to earlier commitments."

He added, "I appeal to the DPRK government not to repeat this provocation and to return to the six-party talks."

According to the South Korean government, the DPRK fired at least seven missiles on Wednesday from two sites along its eastern coastline toward the Sea of Japan.

The UN Security Council held emergency talks on Wednesday to discuss responses to the DPRK's missile launches.

Source: Xinhua