The United Arab Emirates has condemned North Korea's firing of a ballistic missile that flew over Japan on Thursday, in a new provocative test for regional and international security and a continuation of Pyongyang’s unacceptable escalation.

In its statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that these repeated missile tests are a challenge to the related resolutions of the UN Security Council, and a real threat to the international community.

The statement also called on the UN Security Council to work on stopping these acts, which undermine the chances of peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and North-East Asia.

The ministry also highlighted the need for North Korea to abide by Security Council resolutions while calling on all concerned parties to pursue dialogue and diplomacy, to reduce tensions and maintain international peace and security.