UN chief urges N. Korea to halt 'destabilizing acts'

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called on North Korea to cease "destabilizing acts" such as the launch of two missiles earlier in the day.

Ban "remains gravely concerned" about the situation on the Korean peninsula, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

North Korea on Thursday fired a pair of short-range missiles and announced the liquidation of all remaining South Korean assets on its territory.

The UN chief "once again" calls on North Korea "to return to full compliance with relevant UN resolutions and to cease destabilizing acts such as today’s launch of two missiles," he added.

READ: North Korea threatens nuclear strikes over South-US military drills

North Korea is barred from developing ballistic missile or nuclear programs under UN resolutions.

After it carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, the UN Security Council imposed its toughest sanctions to date against North Korea.