ICBM: Stop weapons of mass destruction, G7 tells North Korea

 

WASHINGTON, United States – The G7 nations, comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union have called on North Korea to abandon its weapons of mass destruction.

The G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, who made the call condemned in the strongest terms North Korea’s March 16 launch of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), which it said undermines regional and international peace and security.

“Since last year, North Korea has intensified its escalatory actions through a record number of ballistic missile launches and its continued irresponsible and destabilizing rhetoric regarding the use of nuclear weapons”, Office of Spokesman for the G7 said in a statement.

Earlier this year, North Korea publicly stated its intent to further expand and enhance its nuclear and missile programs.

“We reiterate our demand that North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and any other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner and fully comply with all obligations under the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs)”, it said.

The group noted that North Korea cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear-weapon State in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

“We urge North Korea to engage in meaningful diplomacy toward denuclearization and accept the repeated offers of dialogue put forward by Japan, the United States, and the Republic of Korea.

“We deeply regret to see the stark contrast between the frequency of North Korea’s repeated blatant violations of UNSCRs and the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) corresponding inaction because of some members’ obstruction. North Korea’s reckless behavior demands a swift and unified response by the international community, including further significant measures by the UNSC. We call on all UN Member States to fully and effectively implement all UNSCRs, and for the UNSC Members to follow through on their commitments”, the group noted.

The G7 said it remains concerned about the dire humanitarian situation in North Korea and is committed to working with all relevant partners toward the goal of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and to upholding the rules-based international order.