NATO Secretary-general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on Sunday condemned the rocket launch of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"This launch is highly provocative, and in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1718 barring North Korea (DPRK) from developing ballistic missile capability or launching ballistic missiles. This launch will only deepen concern about North Korea in the region and beyond, and complicate the six-party talks," said the NATO chief in a statement.

"I call on North Korea to cease such provocative actions and to respect immediately a moratorium on all long-range missile launches," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2009)