Responding to the latest ballistic missile launch by North Korea on Monday, Pakistan expressed deep concern and urged diplomatic engagement and dialogue to address rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
The missile was launched at the same time as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Seoul, where he met with South Korea’s interim president, Choi Sang-mok.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Munir Akram on Thursday addressed the UN Security Council and strongly supported the revival of talks between relevant parties.
The missile fired by North Korea was described by Pyongyang as a new type of intermediate-range hypersonic 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 UN Security Council resolutions and global disarmament goals.
The country also expressed its opposition to new nuclear weapons tests and missile provocations, underscoring the need to end coercive actions and threats in the region.
“Provocations such as missile tests and threats must end,” Akram said. “Pakistan opposes any new nuclear weapons tests in Korea or anywhere else.”
South Korea’s military reported detecting 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 nonproliferation efforts.
Khaled Khiari, Undersecretary General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, highlighted that while the launch did not have a direct impact on the security of neighboring countries, North Korea did not issue the required security notifications for airspace and maritime borders.
North Korea’s ambassador to the UN, Song Kim, defended the missile test, describing it as a necessary step to strengthen the country’s national defense and strategic deterrence. 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.
