The United States and several European countries on Wednesday condemned North Korea’s recent missile tests and said Pyongyang’s technological progress underscores the need to immediately implement UN sanctions on its nuclear and missile programs and its economic activities.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield called on North Korea to stop its “provocations” that violate Security Council sanctions resolutions. He said Pyongyang should begin talks with the administration of US President Joe Biden for denuclearization on the Korean peninsula, without preconditions.
He also called on all countries to fully implement UN sanctions “so that we can block the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) access to funds, technology…which it needs to make illegal weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.” need for.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is the official name of North Korea. Before the United Nations Security Council’s emergency meeting on North Korea’s recent missile tests, Thomas Greenfield told reporters that the US had offered talks to North Korean officials.
The three EU members in the Security Council, Ireland, France and Estonia, said in a separate statement that reports of a submarine-launched ballistic missile test were “part of the DPRK’s recent provocations”, which included short-range ballistic missiles. missiles, long-range cruise missiles and one of which it claims to be “a hypersonic glider”.
The submarine-launched missile test, he said, “underlines the continued growth of the DPRK’s nuclear and ballistics program, reflecting its ambition to achieve sea-based nuclear capabilities.”
Ireland, France and Estonia also called on North Korea to respond positively to the US and South Korea’s offer of talks, saying “there is no other way to achieve peace, security and stability on the Korean peninsula.” The Security Council, a 15-member UN body led by Assistant Secretary-General Mohammad Khalid Khyari, held a meeting on North Korea’s recent missile tests, but no statement was issued.
