Malaysia Condemns North Korea's Launch Of Ballistic Missile

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Feb 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Monday condemned North Korea's firing of a new ballistic missile Sunday. The Foreign Ministry said the launch of the medium-range ballistic missile was another blatant violation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. "Malaysia deeply regrets this incident which constitutes a grave threat to global peace and security," it said in a statement. The ministry said the action by North Korea only served to further increase regional tension and hindered the prospects for lasting peace on the Korean peninsula and the world in general. It said Malaysia thus urged North Korea to cease from further launching its missiles and to comply fully with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. North Korea Sunday fired a medium-range ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, in an apparent provocation to boast its military readiness and test the response from the new Donald Trump administration, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported quoting the South Korean military. The missile, said to be a Rodong, was launched from the Banghyon air base in the western province of North Pyongan Province. The Rodong missile has a range of up to 1,500 kilometres, and can hit South Korea and Japan. -- BERNAMA