The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, has unequivocally condemned the «significant increase in illegal missile launches» this week by North Korea, including an intercontinental ballistic missile and the short-range ballistic missile that landed south of the Northern Limit Line.
For Borrell, these actions represent «a dangerous escalation» in North Korea’s «repeated violation of UN Security Council resolutions.»
Saturday’s launch of four more North Korean short-range missiles over the Yellow Sea adds to those of the aforementioned missiles and 25 other projectiles in less than seven days, in a retaliation to the joint tests being carried out by South Korea and the United States, where American strategic bombers are participating for the first time since 2017.
The EU diplomat understands that «the unprecedented number» of ballistic missiles launched in 2022 by North Korea «represents an alarming example of its intention to further undermine the global non-proliferation regime.»
That is why it is necessary, in Borrell’s opinion, «a decisive and united response from the international community», and he asks, on behalf of the EU «all UN member states, especially the members of the UN Security Council, to ensure the full implementation of sanctions» on North Korea.
To the North Korean authorities, Borrell urges them to comply «immediately with UN Security Council resolutions» and abandon «all their nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missile programs and existing nuclear programs, in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.»
The EU assures North Korea that such actions «will never confer on it the status of a nuclear weapons state» and urges Pyongyang to «return immediately to full compliance» with the Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapons state.
Finally, the EU expresses «its full solidarity» with Japan and the Republic of Korea and reiterates its call for North Korea to «cease its aggressive and destabilizing actions, respect international law and resume dialogue with all relevant parties», with the support of Brussels.
