ニュース 2012/12/12 DPJ Statement: The DPJ will lodge a strong protest over North Korea’s missile launch On the afternoon of December 12, the DPJ issued a party statement pledging to "lodge a strong protest" over North Korea's decision to press ahead with the launch of a missile which it calls a "satellite." The full text of the statement is as follows: Today, North Korea launched a missile which it calls a "satellite." The launch threatens the peace and stability of the East Asian region and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. This is an intolerable act, and the DPJ is lodging a strong protest to North Korea. North Korea pressed ahead with the launch, despite being urged by Japan and other members of the international community to exercise restraint, violating the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolutions as well as the Presidential Statement of the Security Council issued after North Korea’s previous missile launch in April of this year.