Pakistan expresses concern over North Korea’s ballistic missile launch

In response to North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launch on Monday, Pakistan expressed deep concern and called for diplomatic engagement and dialogue to address rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The missile launch coincided with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Seoul, where he met with South Korean Vice President Choi Sang-mok.

Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram, addressed the UN Security Council on Thursday, strongly advocating the revival of talks between the parties concerned.

The missile launched by North Korea was described by Pyongyang as a new type of hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle. Akram condemned these developments, calling them detrimental to regional and international peace and security.

Pakistan reiterated its commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, urging the implementation of UNSC resolutions and global disarmament goals.

The country also expressed its opposition to further nuclear weapons tests and missile provocations, underscoring the need to end coercive actions and threats in the region.

“Provocations like missile tests and threats must stop,” Akram said. “Pakistan opposes any further testing of nuclear weapons in Korea or elsewhere.”

South Korea’s military said it detected a projectile, believed to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile, after the launch. UN officials have warned that North Korea’s missile program continues to undermine global non-proliferation efforts.

Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Political and Peace Affairs, stressed that while the launch had no direct impact on the security of neighboring countries, North Korea failed to issue required airspace and maritime border security alerts.

North Korea’s UN ambassador, Song Kim, defended the missile test, calling it a necessary step to bolster the country’s national defense and deterrence strategy. He warned that any physical conflict on the peninsula would be the result of “reckless actions” by the United States and South Korea.

Kim urged the UN Security Council to refrain from criminalizing North Korea’s actions, citing double standards in the application of international law.