The Secretary-General strongly condemns the launch of a ballistic missile of intercontinental range by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 24 March 2022. This is another breach of the DPRK’s announced moratorium in 2018 on launches of this nature, and a clear violation of Security Council resolutions. 
 
The launch of the long-range missile risks a significant escalation of tensions in the region. The Secretary-General urges the DPRK to desist from taking any further counter-productive actions.
 
He reaffirms his commitment to working with all parties in seeking a peaceful diplomatic solution for the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.