Group of Seven condemns North Korean launch of long-range ballistic missile

Group of Seven foreign ministers on Saturday condemned in the strongest terms North Korea's launch of a long-range ballistic missile into the sea off Japan's west coast, saying a unified response from the international community was needed.

The foreign ministers said in a statement after meeting on the sidelines of the Security Conference in Munich, Germany: "This action is a flagrant violation of UN Security Council resolutions and threatens regional and international peace and security."

"North Korea's reckless behavior requires a unified response from the international community, including more significant action by the U.N. Security Council," the ministers said.

South Korea's military said today's long-range missile was fired from the Sunan area near Pyongyang. Sunan is home to Pyongyang International Airport, where North Korea has conducted most of its recent intercontinental ballistic missile tests.