Philippines condemns North Korea missile test

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines condemned yesterday the latest missile test by North Korea, saying it undermined peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula, the entire region and the world.

“We reiterate our call on the DPRK to comply with its international obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and commit to the process of constructive and peaceful dialogue,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement, referring to North Korea.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC) said on May 25 that North Korea fired three ballistic missiles toward waters off its east coast, after US President Joe Biden ended an Asia trip during which he agreed to new measures to deter Pyongyang.

4 Philippine ships

Meanwhile, the Philippines deployed four vessels to the Regional Marine Pollution Exercises 2022 (MARPOLEX 2022) in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi Province, the DFA said yesterday.

Consul General Bryan Lao and other officials of the Philippine consulate general in Manado attended the MARPOLEX 2022 opening ceremony at the official residence of the governor of South Sulawesi on May 24.

The officials also witnessed the Philippine Coast Guard’s deployment of four vessels, including the newly acquired multi-role response vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua to the ongoing MARPOLEX 2022 in Makassar City, South Sulawesi province.

The MARPOLEX is an oil spill response integrated exercise conducted every two years by the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan in line with the provisions of the Sulu Sulawesi Oil Spill Network Plan 1981.

It aims to train and enhance cooperation and inter-operability capacities as well as ensure participating countries’ preparedness in firefighting, rescue and oil spill recovery operations.

The 350-strong Philippine Coast Guard delegation is led by Coast Guard Vice Admiral Rolando Lizor Punzalan Jr.

Joining the BRP Teresa Magbanua for this week’s marine exercises in Makassar are the BRP Gabriela Silang, BRP Cape Engaño and BRP Malapascua.