Brussels, 05/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - In a joint statement at a meeting before the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors, the 28 EU member states expressed their “deep concern” at the news that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) might be preparing a fourth nuclear test.
According to their statement, North Korea continues to develop its military capabilities. “The EU calls up the DPRK to take meaningful steps towards denuclearisation and engage in credible multilateral talks”, the EU delegation to the IAEA stated on Twitter.
North Korea has already carried out three nuclear tests (in October 2006, May 2009 and February 2013) - although these are forbidden by the United Nations. According to satellite images, the country seems far advanced in its preparations for a fourth test.
G7 calls for halt to nuclear activities. The same day, the leaders of the G7 countries firmly condemned North Korea's continued development of its nuclear programmes and ballistic missiles. They also called for the immediate renunciation of all North Korea's nuclear arms and programmes, and for North Korea fully to honour its international commitments (United Nations resolutions and joint statement in September 2005 from the six-sided negotiations). The G7 also called on the international community to apply the UN sanctions fully.
Coming back to the “persistent, systematic, flagrant and widespread” violations of human rights in North Korea, the G7 leaders urged North Korea to take immediate measures to remedy these violations - including the issue of kidnapping - and to cooperate fully with the UN. They said that they would continue to work so that North Korea might be held to account for its serious human rights violations. (CG)