PH condemns North Korea's ballistic missile launch

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 18) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday joined Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in condemning North Korea's launching of ballistic missiles which reportedly landed west of Hokkaido, Japan.

According to Japan's coast guard, North Korea reportedly fired a long-range ballistic missile which fell into a part of the Japan Sea.

«We join Japan, together with the rest of the ASEAN, in condemning the continued threat that the launching [of] ballistic missiles by the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] represents,» Marcos said.

«As we speak on economic progress in our region, we found these aspirations for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific Region. So, such dangerous and provocative actions by the DPRK threaten and destabilize the region and the world,» he added.

The chief executive made the remark prior to his speech at the Asia Zero Emission Community leaders' meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, Japan.

Marcos is in Japan with members of his economic team to attend the 50th Commemorative ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation Summit.