France strongly condemns the rocket launch carried out this morning by North Korea, in violation of this country’s international obligations.

UN Security Council resolutions 1695, 1718 and 1874 state that North Korea must refrain from any activity associated with a ballistic missile program. UNSCR 1874 in particular demands that it not conduct any “launch using ballistic missile technology.”

Given that space launch vehicles and ballistic missiles use related technology this missile launch, which the North Korean authorities are calling a space launch, therefore constitutes a clear violation of the Security Council resolutions.

France will support firm action at the Security Council and is working toward this goal with its partners.

North Korea must immediately comply with its international obligations and dismantle its nuclear and ballistic programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.

France calls on North Korea to refrain from any other gesture that could further increase tensions in the region and jeopardize international peace and security, as well as to take concrete steps toward ensuring the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.