Turkey condemns North Korea missile launch

ANKARA The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday strongly condemned a ballistic missile launch by North Korea earlier on Wednesday. "This launch, conducted in total disregard of the international community, constitutes yet another blatant violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions," the ministry said. North Korea risked provoking the United States and its allies further by conducting the missile test, according to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and U.S. Pacific Command. A JCS statement said the North fired a missile from the Sinpo area into the Sea of Japan at 6.42 a.m. local time Wednesday (2142GMT on Tuesday). "North Korea must cease its activities threatening regional, as well as international security and stability and comply with its international obligations under the relevant UN resolutions," the Turkish ministry added.