Philippines urges North Korea to halt missile tests

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines on Tuesday called on North Korea to halt its dangerous and provocative actions following its missile launch that flew over Japan.

The missile launched at 5 a.m. Manila time, traveled around 2,700 kilometers and reached a maximum height of 550 kilometers as it flew over the island of Hokkaido, according to Seoul's Joint Chief of Staff.

“We call on the DPRK to halt these dangerous and provocative actions, which heighten tensions, increase instability and the risk of miscalculation, and could possibly endanger lives," Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

READ: ASEAN ministers decry North Korea's missile tests

Cayetano recalled the statement released by the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations released August 5 on the developments in the Korean Peninsula.

In their joint statement, the ASEAN foreign ministers called on Pyongyang to comply with its obligations under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

The Philippines' top diplomat stressed that the 10-member regional bloc remains committed to peaceful resolutions of conflict.

"While we are ready to do our part, provocations such as this latest missile launch should stop to help us put in place an environment that would be conducive for dialogue," Cayetano said.

Cayetano has instructed the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo to monitor the situation and to ensure the safety of approximately 242,000 Filipinos working and living in Japan.

"I wish to assure our kababayans in Japan that our Embassy in Tokyo and our Consulate General in Osaka are prepared to assist them should it be necessary,” he said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters that the Japanese government had been "completely" aware of and is monitoring the North Korean missile launch on Tuesday, noting that it had been prepared to protect people's lives.

He said he will call for an urgent meeting in the United Nations to discuss further action, strongly demanding stepped up pressures against North Korea.

He said Japan will be prepared to "respond to all situations," under the bilateral alliance with the United States, to protect people's safety.

Japanese officials said there was no damage to ships or anything else reported as the missile flew over Japan and plunged into the northern Pacific. Japan's NHK TV said the missile separated into three parts. — with Associated Press