South Korea’s Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan has condemned North Korea’s rocket launch, calling it a clear violation against UN Security Council resolution 1874 and a provocative threat to peace and security on the Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia.

Minister Kim said Friday that the failed launch of what North Korea claims was a working satellite was fired from a launch site in North Pyeongan Province at 7:39 a.m. on Friday.

He said the South Korean government strongly condemns North Korea for carrying out the launch and ignoring united calls from the international community that the plan be scrapped. He added that North Korea should take due responsibility for its actions.

The minister lamented that large amounts of resources are being devoted to developing nuclear weapons and missile capabilities, while North Koreans are struggling from chronic food shortages.

He said the South Korean government is devising comprehensive measures to effectively respond to additional provocations such as a nuclear or missile threat, and it plans to come up with a coordinated response to the latest threat with relevant parties and the international community.

He asked South Korean citizens to stay calm and go on with their daily lives.