G7 Condemns North Korea's Missile Launch... "Strong International Response if Nuclear Test Occurs" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) on the 4th (local time) stated that they must respond swiftly and unitedly with strong international measures if North Korea conducts any nuclear tests or other reckless actions.

In a joint statement issued after a two-day meeting held on the 3rd and 4th in M?nster, Germany, the G7 foreign ministers strongly condemned "North Korea's unprecedented illegal consecutive ballistic missile launches."

The G7 foreign ministers pointed out that "these launches demonstrate North Korea's ongoing efforts to expand its ballistic missile capabilities and are blatant violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions."

They emphasized, "We once again demand that North Korea completely, verifiably, and irreversibly abandon its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in accordance with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions."

This was a demand for North Korea's "Complete, Verifiable, and Irreversible Denuclearization (CVID)."

They said, "We urge North Korea to immediately cease destabilizing actions and fully comply with its legal obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)."

The G7 foreign ministers added, "We call on all countries to fully and effectively implement all UN Security Council resolutions and to monitor, prevent, and punish sanctions evasion."

They stated, "We urge North Korea to halt further escalation of tensions and to engage in meaningful diplomacy regarding its illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programs," adding, "We will continue to do our utmost with relevant partners to maintain lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and uphold a rules-based international order."

The G7 foreign ministers also urged, "We call on North Korea to allow the reestablishment of UN agencies and diplomatic access in accordance with appropriate and reasonable COVID-19 quarantine regulations," and said, "We condemn North Korea's systematic and widespread human rights abuses and call on North Korea to cooperate with all relevant UN agencies to immediately resolve the abduction issue."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.