US decries N. Korea's missile launches, calls on it to refrain from 'unlawful,' 'destabilizing' acts

This undated released by the Korean Central News Agency shows a North Korean missile launch. Yonhap

The United States condemns North Korea's ballistic missile launches and calls on the recalcitrant regime to refrain from further "unlawful" and "destabilizing" acts, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said Wednesday.

The command issued a statement shortly after Pyongyang fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea in its first such launch since March.

"We are aware of the DPRK's multiple ballistic missile launches and are consulting closely with the Republic of Korea and Japan, as well as other regional allies and partners," the command said. DPRK is short for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"The United States condemns these actions and calls on the DPRK to refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing acts," it added.

The command said that it continues to monitor the situation, reiterating that America's commitments to the defense of South Korea and Japan remain "ironclad."