The Philippines aired its concern over North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile on 18 December that "provokes tensions and undermines stability" in the Korean Peninsula.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, in a statement late Friday, quoted South Korea and Japan as saying that North Korea fired what was believed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile.

"The Philippines condemns the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's launch of a ballistic missile on 18 December 2023. DPRK's action provokes tension and undermines economic progress, peace, and stability in the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region," the DFA said.

Japan's Defense Ministry said North Korea's missile had the potential to travel more than 15,000 kilometers or 9,300 miles — which could strike Japan and mainland United States. The missile flew for about 73 minutes before splashing down, it added.

South Korea's National Security Council said it was a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile.

It described the missile launch as a "destabilizing act that ignored international warnings and multiple UN Security Council resolutions."

Nuclear-armed North Korea's launch of missiles is a condemnation of the United States-led show of force as "war moves."

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had earlier joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in deploring North Korea's firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan.

"We join Japan, together with the rest of ASEAN, in condemning the continued threat that the launching [of] ballistic missiles by the DPRK represents," Marcos said.

Marcos also labeled North Korea's action as "dangerous and provocative" as it threatens and "destabilizes the region and the world."

"The Philippines joins its voice to all our partners in peace in condemning this looming existential threat," he added.