G7 condemns latest North Korean ICBM test

March 19 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The G7 foreign ministers have published this Sunday a statement condemning the latest North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, carried out early this Sunday.

The members of the group “condemn in the strongest terms the launch on March 16 by North Korea of ​​yet another intercontinental ballistic missile” and have denounced that it represents a deterioration of international and regional peace and security.

In addition, the G7 foreign ministers have recalled that in the last year Pyongyang “has intensified its escalation actions with a record number of ballistic missile launches” and its “irresponsible and destabilizing rhetoric on the use of nuclear weapons”.

The members of the G7 have thus called on North Korea to “abandon its nuclear weapons, its active nuclear programs and any other type of weapon of mass destruction and its ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner” and comply with all its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions.

“North Korea cannot and will never have nuclear weapon state status under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. We urge North Korea to engage in denuclearization diplomacy and accept repeated offers of dialogue made by Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea”, referring to South Korea, they added.

They also lament the “stark contrast between the frequency of flagrant violations of UN Security Council resolutions and the passivity of the UN Security Council” which they attribute to “obstruction by some members.”

North Korea’s “reckless” behavior necessitates a “unified response” from the international community, including action at the UN Security Council. “We urge all members of the UN to fully and effectively implement all UN Security Council resolutions,” they added.

In addition, the G7 has expressed its “concern” about the “difficult humanitarian situation” in North Korea and has pledged to work together to “achieve peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and uphold a law-based international order.

North Korea has launched a ballistic missile this Sunday towards the Sea of ​​Japan, as confirmed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea. Pyongyang defends this type of tests as a response to the joint military maneuvers that South Korea and the United States are carrying out these days.

The G7 is made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the High Representative for Foreign Policy of the EU, Josep Borrell.