EU says N.Korea missile launch would be 'provocative act'

BRUSSELS (AFP) - EU foreign ministers said on Monday that a planned missile launch by North Korea would be a "provocative act" in breach of UN resolutions and require an international response.

They said North Korea's plan to launch a satellite would in effect be a ballistic missile test and break UN resolutions against Pyongyang developing such technology given its nuclear weapons drive.

A launch would directly contravene "the international community's unified call not to conduct such launches," a statement said after a day-long foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.

"The EU would consider such a launch a provocative act, jeopardising diplomatic efforts in the pursuit of lasting peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and the broader region," it said.