PUTRAJAYA, July 30 — Malaysia has condemned North Korea’s launching of an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Friday, the second ICBM the "hermit kingdom” has launched in a month.

The Foreign Ministry in a statement today said North Korea’s defiance in not halting its nuclear and ballistic missile programme has grave implications on international peace and security.

It said such action was also a flagrant violation of the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s international obligations.

"Malaysia urges North Korea to cease all provocative actions and comply with the relevant UNSC resolutions in the interest of regional and global peace and security,” the statement said.

The Foreign Ministry said Malaysia also called on North Korea and all relevant parties to exercise restraint and resume dialogue to de-escalate tensions, with a view to finding a peaceful resolution to the situation in the Korean Peninsula. — Bernama