Nato urges 'firm response' to N Korea missile launch

Nato has called for a firm international response to North Korea’s missile launch which the western alliance condemned as a threat to security in east Asia and the wider world.

“North Korea’s missile proliferation and provocative actions necessitate a firm response from the international community,” the 26-nation alliance said in a statement from Brussels.

“We call on North Korea to cease immediately the development of long-range missiles and reconfirm its moratorium on all long-range missile launches.”

The alliance said North Korea’s development and use of ballistic missiles “pose a serious threat to the region and to the international community at large”.

“We regret and condemn this launch,” it added.

The European Union echoed similar concerns and also condemned North Korea.

“There can be no question that such action puts additional strain on regional stability. They certainly don’t do anything to aid non-proliferation efforts,” said EU spokeswoman Emma Udwin.

“What we would like to see is North Korea return to the moratorium that has held since September 1999 and of course return to the talks ... and try to secure a solution through dialogue.”

North Korea test-fired a long-range missile and several shorter-range rockets today in defiance of international warnings.

Nato nations said they would support “efforts to address this matter” in the UN Security Council which was meeting in emergency session later Wednesday amid calls from Japan for economic sanctions against the impoverished communist regime.