The Philippine government expressed its serious concern over the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) plans to launch a satellite between 10 and 22 December. 

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs cited the UN Security Council Resolutions 1874 (2009) which explicitly demands that the DPRK not to conduct any launch using ballistic missile technology as well as suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program.

“We reiterate our call to the DPRK to reconsider its planned launch and abide by these resolutions, which call for the abandonment of its ballistic missile programme in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner,” the statement reads.

The government said it joins other governments “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.”*