“It is highly regrettable that North Korea has once again chosen to conduct missile tests. This further escalates tension in the region and is therefore a worrying development,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

This is the first North Korean test launch since 1998. Norway has supported international efforts to persuade North Korea to refrain from such action.

“We continue to be deeply worried over North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme. North Korea must without delay discontinue this programme and subject all of its nuclear activities to international control. It is therefore important that the talks aimed at finding a diplomatic solution to the issue of North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme are successful,” Mr Støre concluded.