The Federal Government condemns in the strongest possible terms North Korea’s attempt on 28 May to launch a military satellite into space using ballistic missile technology. This launch constitutes a grave violation of North Korea’s obligations under the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. The continued violations of these Security Council resolutions by North Korea pose a threat to the security of our partners in the region and around the world.

The German Government urgently calls on North Korea to abide by its obligations under international law, to accept the offers of talks put forward by the United States and South Korea and to enter into serious negotiations on the dismantling of its nuclear and missile programmes. North Korea remains bound to the complete, verifiable and irreversible ending of its programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.