Turkey condemns latest North Korean missile test

By Ahmet Sait Akcay

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey has denounced North Korea’s latest ballistic missile test and called on the isolated state to stop its “provocative behavior”.

“We condemn the ballistic missile launch conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 29 August 2017 in the strongest terms,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The trajectory of the missile, flying over a neighboring state, is further testimony to the reckless and provocative behavior adopted by the DPRK, it added.

Turkey said Pyongyang was “disregarding its international obligations” and said North Korea “continues its irresponsible policies by flagrantly violating UN Security Council Resolutions”.

“The DPRK must cease ballistic missile launches and other activities that threaten regional and global security and stability, and abide by the relevant UNSC resolutions,” it added.

The isolated autocratic country on Monday fired a ballistic missile over Japan for the first time in two decades, exasperating its neighbors and the United States.

The projectile flew around 2,700 kilometers (1,678 miles) and "passed through the sky over Japan", according to a statement from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Pyongyang is barred from nuclear and ballistic missile testing under UN Security Council resolutions, a prohibition it has routinely ignored.