BELGIUM CONDEMNS NORTH KOREA MISSILE LAUNCH

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000525 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/WE, EAP/K AND ISN/MTR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP KN BE SUBJECT: BELGIUM CONDEMNS NORTH KOREA MISSILE LAUNCH REF: STATE 33031 Poloff delivered reftel demarche and presidential statement regarding the recent launch by North Korea to Werner Bauwens, Special Envoy for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, on April 6 and to Mohammed Lahmidi, Korea desk officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 7. Bauwens called attention to a statement by the Foreign Minister, Karel De Gucht, issued April 5. In the statement, De Gucht said that North Korea is behaving completely irresponsibly. He said that the missile test is a violation of UNSCR 1718 and an attack on international legal order in general. He called on the Security Council to confirm these facts, and expressed concern that the provocative launch will increase regional tensions and put ongoing nuclear negotiations in the Six-Party Talks at risk. De Gucht added that only constructive behavior by North Korea will avoid its complete isolation and promote the welfare of its impoverished population. He said that it is a true scandal that North Korea spends a disproportionate part of its limited means on developing long-range missiles and other arms projects that do nothing to help its people. BUSH .