“Despite repeated calls from the international community”, North Korea is accused of continuing its “escalation” with “a record number of ballistic missile launches”. This demonstrates, the statement added, “its determination to advance and diversify its illegal nuclear and ballistic capabilities”.
The press release, published in Brussels, the capital of the EU, is co-signed by the foreign ministers of the G7 (United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom), with which the leader joins of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
“North Korea cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear-weapon state”
“We once again reiterate our demand that North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and all other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.”
They also demand that Pyongyang “fully comply with all obligations arising from relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions”. “North Korea cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear-weapon state within the meaning of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,” they continue.
North Korea announced on Thursday that its second attempt in three months to put a spy satellite into orbit had failed, and promised to try again in October. The American presidency quickly denounced this attempted launch, accusing it of “aggravating tensions”.