WASHINGTON - The top diplomats of the United States, South Korea and Japan held a call on Nov 24 to discuss North Korea’s recent launch of a spy satellite, which they strongly condemned, the US State Department said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, South Korea Foreign Minister Park Jin and Japan Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa “strongly condemned the (Nov 21) launch for its destabilising effect on the region,” the State Department said in a statement on Nov 24.

North Korea said on Nov 21 it had placed its first spy satellite in orbit, drawing international condemnation for violating UN resolutions that bar its use of technology applicable to ballistic missile programs. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the launch was an exercise of the right to self-defence.

This week’s satellite launch was North Korea’s third attempt this year after two failures and followed Mr Kim’s rare trip to Russia in September, during which President Vladimir Putin vowed to help Pyongyang build satellites.

South Korean officials said the latest launch most likely involved Russian technical assistance under a growing partnership that has seen Pyongyang supply Russia with millions of artillery shells.

Russia and North Korea have denied arms deals but have promised deeper cooperation.

In their call on Nov 24, the top diplomats of Tokyo, Washington and Seoul said the international community needed to “come together to prevent (North Korea’s) procurement activities and stem the flow of revenue supporting its unlawful WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and ballistic missile programs”, according to the State Department. REUTERS