Philippines strongly condemns DPRK rocket launching

MANILA  -- The Philippine government on Wednesday "strongly condemns" the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK's) rocket launching, saying that it violated an UN resolution.

In a statement issued shortly after the rocket launch, the Philippine foreign affairs department said the DPRK violated UN Security Council Resolutions 1695 (2006), 1874 (2009) and 1718 ( 2006).

These resolutions, the department said, "explicitly demanded DPRK not to use or conduct any launch using ballistic missile technology and the suspension of its ballistic missile program."

The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the DPRK launched Wednesday a long-range rocket and succeeded in its mission to place its Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite in orbit.

The Philippine government is asking the DPRK to stop its "acts of provocation" and the use or testing of ballistic missile technology.

It also joined the international community in urging the DPRK " to undertake steps towards confidence-building and engagement with the international community in order to ensure peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the entire Asia-Pacific region."