Boris Johnson urges united response to North Korea’s latest missile test

The Foreign Secretary condemned the test as “illegal” and the latest sign of “provocation” from Pyongyang.

The latest missile launch by North Korea must be met with a united international response, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has urged.

Kim Jong Un’s regime fired an intermediate-range missile over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean – the second such test in recent weeks.

Hwasong 12 missile fact file (PA Graphics)

Mr Johnson called test “illegal” and condemned it as the latest sign of “provocation” from Pyongyang.

“Yet another illegal missile launch by North Korea. UK and international community will stand together in the face of these provocations,” he said on Twitter.

In a subsequent statement, he added: “The UK and the international community have condemned the aggressive and illegal actions of the North Korean regime, and the succession of missile and nuclear tests. We stand firmly by Japan and our other international partners.

Probable path of North Korean missile launch over Japan (PA Graphics)

“We are working to mobilise world opinion with the aim of achieving a diplomatic solution to the situation on the Korean peninsula.

“This week the most stringent UN sanctions regime placed on any nation in the 21st century was imposed on North Korea, after being unanimously agreed at the UN Security Council.

“These measures now need to be robustly enforced. We urge all states to play their part in changing the course North Korea is taking.”

Before the latest launch, Mr Johnson had called for China to use its influence over North Korea to ease tensions caused by Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile development programmes.

U.S. missile defense system called Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, are seen at a golf course in Seongju (Kim Jun-beom/AP)

At a press conference with US counterpart Rex Tillerson on Thursday, Mr Johnson said Pyongyang had “defied the world”.

“We resolved to continue to work together and with important partners who can influence North Korea – including China – with the aim of securing the complete and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula,” he said.

South Korean military officials said the latest missile travelled about 3,700 kilometres (2,300 miles) and reached a maximum height of 770 kilometres (478 miles) before landing in the water.