UN chief "gravely concerned" by situation on Korean Peninsula

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday said that he was "gravely concerned by the situation on the Korean Peninsula" after the reported launch of two ballistic missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and called upon Pyongyang "to return to full compliance with relevant Security Council resolutions."

"The secretary-general obviously remains gravely concerned by the situation on the Korean Peninsula," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here in response to a press question.

"He once again calls on the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) to return to full compliance with relevant Security Council resolutions and cease destabilizing acts such as today's launch of two missiles."

"We are also closely following developments and staying in touch with all interested parties and we reconfirm the secretary-general's commitment to work for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," Dujarric said.

Reports said the DPRK fired two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday and announced it would liquidate all remaining Republic of Korea (ROK) assets in its territory after the ROK announced unilateral sanctions against the DPRK just days after the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to curb the DPRK's nuclear and missile program.

Under a series of relevant Security Council resolutions, the DPRK is banned from developing or testing ballistic missiles.