The European Union has expressed deep concern over North Korea’s plan to send an earth observation satellite into space by launching a long-range rocket and demanded the North give up its launch plan.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement that the launch goes completely against North Korea’s responsibility to the international community and violates UN Security Council Resolution 1874.

The UN resolution has banned all missile launches from North Korea since 2009 following North Korea’s nuclear test and missile launches.

Ashton also urged the North to give up the launch, saying it would undermine international efforts to resume the six-party denuclearization talks.