North Korea should not 'aggravate tensions': US
The United States urged North Korea yesterday not to "aggravate tensions" as it called Pyongyang's latest missile launches "not helpful."
"North Korea should refrain from actions that aggravate tensions and focus on denuclearisation talks and the implementation of its commitments from the September 19, 2005 joint statement," said State Department spokesman Karl Duckworth.
"This type of North Korean behaviour is not helpful," he told AFP after North Korea test-fired seven missiles off its east coast earlier Saturday, according to South Korean officials.
The ballistic missiles -- which the North is banned from firing under UN resolutions -- were launched between into the Sea of Japan.
It was the biggest salvo of ballistic weaponry since the North fired a long-range Taepodong-2 and six smaller missiles on US Independence Day in 2006.
Under the 2005 agreement, North Korea promised to give up its nuclear program in exchange for a US pledge not to attack or invade it and to work toward normalised relations.
The United States and other parties to the agreement -- China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea -- also offered to put together an energy package for North Korea.
But North Korea announced last April that it was walking out of the six-party talks and resuming operation of its nuclear facilities.
Pyongyang conducted its second nuclear test in May.
"What North Korea needs to do is fulfil its international obligations and commitments," Duckworth said, adding that North Korean missile launches "highlight the importance of fully implementing the provisions of the UN resolutions."
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