TOKYO, Japan—The Philippines joined Japan in condemning the reported ballistic missile launch of North Korea on Monday.
President Marcos made the statement on Monday, Dec. 18, after North Korea reportedly fired an intercontinental ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan.
“We join Japan, together with the rest of the ASEAN (Association of the Southeast Asian Nations), in condemning the continued threat that the launching [of] ballistic missiles by the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] represents,” Marcos said.
"The Philippines joins its voice to all our partners in peace in condemning this looming existential threat," he added.
The President made the remarks during his speech at the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) leaders meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, Japan as part of the 50th Commemorative ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation Summit.
“As we speak on economic progress in our region, we found these aspirations on 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 stressed.
North Korea reportedly fired a long-range ballistic missile, which supposedly fell into the sea, west of Hokkaido, according to Japan’s coast guard.