Office of the President's Statement on North Korean Missile Launch
On behalf of the Office of the President, Deputy Secretary-General to the President Cho Jung-tai today commented on North Korea's missile test yesterday. The following is his statement:
North Korea yesterday launched a total of seven missiles, which has raised the tension in Northeast Asia and aroused the world's deep concerns. In particular, many neighboring countries have felt threatened and expressed their condemnations.
The Office of the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) strongly condemns North Korea's provocative act, which has severely threatened the peace of the Asian-Pacific region and the rest of the world. In the views of the Office of the President, peace is a universal value and the pursuit of it is a basic human right; that the North Korean government showed off its military forces regardless of peace will absolutely be opposed by all the other nations. Hence, the world should stand united to pressure North Korea to abstain from the wrongful act that has breached human peace.
The Office of the President insists that yesterday's missile test again proves the importance of collective security in East Asia. As a country whose security and interests are at stake in this region, Taiwan once was threatened by China's missile test in 1996. We, therefore, call on all nations involved to build up an effective mechanism for security that will allow each nation to contain itself and remain rational and constructive when facing impasses of this kind. In order to find room for consultation and cooperation in the future, we also call on all the nations to comply with international mainstream values-- "replace confrontation with cooperation" and to "settle conflict through dialogue."
The Office of the President again reiterates its support for peace talks in resolving all disputes, including those in the Taiwan Strait. While occupied with North Korea's missile test, the international community should pay equal concern over cross-strait peace, for Taiwan is also menaced by the missiles deployed by China in spite of violating peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. As a member of the international community, the Republic of China (Taiwan) is willing to share its obligations and duties, and take part in collective efforts in maintaining regional stability and world peace.