NATO on Wednesday voiced grave concern over a plan announced by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to launch a satellite later this month.

NATO ambassadors expressed grave concern at DPRK's "declared intent to launch a rocket using ballistic missile technology this month," NATO said in a statement.

"Such an act would be in direct violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 1874. It would risk exacerbating tensions in the region and further destabilising the Korean Peninsula," the statement said.

NATO called on DPRK to "meet their obligations under international law and comply fully with the will of the international community as expressed by the United Nations Security Council and the moratorium on missile launches."

DPRK announced last week that it would launch an earth observation satellite between Dec. 10 and 22 from the Sohae Space Center in DPRK's North Phyongan Province. However, western powers worried that the launch would help DPRK develop a ballistic missile.