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North Korea told not to raise tensions
US says missile testing is not helpful as Russia and China call for reviving six-party talks.
- Agencies
- Published: 22:31 July 4, 2009
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Timeline: North Korea's missile testing
Timeline: North Korea's missile testing
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North Korea tests more missiles
North Korea tests series of missiles off eastern coast
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Tensions rise after North Korea tests two missiles
Tensions rise after North Korea tests two missiles
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S Korea: North being monitored for signs of more missile firing activity
S Korea: North being monitored for signs of more missile firing activity
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Seoul: N. Korea may fire more missiles
Seoul: North Korea may fire more missiles
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Best bet is to largely ignore North Korea
Best bet is to largely ignore North Korea
Washington: The United States urged North Korea yesterday not to "aggravate tensions" as it called Pyongyang's latest missile, apparently timed for the US Independence Day holiday "not helpful".
"North Korea should refrain from actions that aggravate tensions and focus on denuclearisation talks and the implementation of its commitments from the September 19, 2005 joint statement," said State Department spokesman Karl Duckworth. "This type of North Korean behaviour is not helpful," he told reporters after North Korea test-fired seven missiles off its east coast earlier on Saturday.
It was the biggest salvo of ballistic weaponry since the North fired seven missiles in 2006.
Under the 2005 agreement, North Korea promised to give up its nuclear programme in exchange for a US pledge not to attack it and to work toward normalised relations.
North Korea announced in last April that it was walking out of six-party talks and resuming operation of its nuclear facilities.
Russia and China are convinced that there is no alternative to the six-party talks to stop the nuclear programme, the Russian foreign ministry said after meeting with Chinese officials.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry "expressed deep regret over the North's continuous behaviour that escalates tensions in Northeast Asia by repeatedly defying" the resolution, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said in a statement that the launch of missiles "is a serious act of provocation against the security of neighbouring countries".
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband also condemned the tests as "provocations".
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