MADRID, March 19 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The G7 foreign ministers have published a statement this Sunday condemning North Korea’s latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, conducted earlier this Sunday.

The group’s members “condemn in the strongest terms the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on March 16 by North Korea” and denounced it as a setback to international and regional peace and security.

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

Accordingly, the G7 members have called on North Korea to “abandon its nuclear weapons, active nuclear program and all other types of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs completely, verifiably and irreversibly” and comply with all its regulations. obligations under UN Security Council resolutions.

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

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

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

In addition, the G7 has expressed “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 an international order based on law.”

North Korea has launched a ballistic missile this Sunday towards the Sea of ​​Japan, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed. Pyongyang defended this type of test in response to recent joint military maneuvers by South Korea and the United States.

The G7 consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the High Representative for European Union Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell.