BEIJING (Sputnik) – Earlier in the day, officials in Seoul said North Korea had launched a ballistic missile from the western area of Sukchun into the Sea of Japan. A second missile was reported launched 22 minutes after the first from the same area, but appears to have exploded in mid-air, according to Seoul.
"With regard to the launch of new missiles by North Korea, the UN Security Council has the appropriate decisions. We urge North Korea to comply with [the] Security Council resolutions," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters.
Lu expressed hope that all parties exercise restraint and calm, in order to prevent a further escalation of the situation on the Korean peninsula.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula escalated after North Korea carried out a hydrogen bomb test in early January and put a satellite into orbit a month later, violating UN Security Council resolutions and triggering condemnation from the international community.
