EU slams DPRK's lastest test-fire of ballistic missiles

European Union (EU) on Monday slammed the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s latest test-launch of four ballistic missiles as a move "in utter disregard of multiple UN Security Council resolutions."

"These actions are illegal and further raise tensions in the region and beyond to the detriment of all," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini warned in a strongly-worded statement.

Mogherni reasserted EU's ground that the DPRK must halt all launches using ballistic missile technology and abandon its ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, as required by the UN Security Council.

She also urged the DPRK to "immediately re-engage in a credible and meaningful dialogue with the international community, in particular the Six-Party Talks."

Mogherini hinted that the EU would slap further sanctions towards the DPRK, saying that she will team up with Japan and other international partners to "further discuss the international response over the coming days."

The DPRK test-fired four ballistic missiles into east waters early Monday as combined forces of South Korea and the United States launched their joint military exercises last week, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea said.

The JCS was quoted by local media as saying that four ballistic missiles of an unidentified type were fired from an area near Tongchanri-ri in the DPRK's northwest region at about 7:36 a.m. local time (2236 GMT on Sunday).

The missiles flew about 1,000 km into the eastern waters.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said three out of the four DPRK ballistic missiles fell into Japan's exclusive economic zone.

DPRK has not made any comment on the missile launch yet.

On Feb. 12, the DPRK also test-fired a new type of Pukguksong-2 intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) in the launch supervised by top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.

Source: Xinhua