Once again firmly condemning the nuclear tests and multiple ballistic missile launches carried out by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the foreign ministers stressed on Monday 12 December that they intend to continue to work unreservedly for the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, including by considering further restrictive measures.
In conclusions, they adopted on the same day, the ministers welcomed the sanctions taken by the United Nations Security Council on 30 November (see EUROPE 11680). These sanctions were transposed into European law on 9 December and include the freezing of the assets of ten entities and the freezing of the assets and a visa ban for a further eleven individuals (see EUROPE 11686).
According to the Council, the nuclear tests and missile launches, which are "irresponsible and illegal actions", are increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula to the detriment of all. The European institution expresses concern at North Korea's development of nuclear weapons, stressing that this is "bound to seriously aggravate the security situation in Asia and beyond".
The ministers therefore call on Pyongyang to re-engage in a credible and meaningful dialogue with the international community, in particular in the framework of the six-party talks, and to cease its provocations. North Korea must respect its international obligations, abandon its existing nuclear weapons, weapons of mass destruction, nuclear missile and ballistics programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, and immediately cease all related activities, the ministers reiterate.
The Council also "expresses grave concern" at the fact that Pyongyang has diverted resources into armaments programmes without regard for the humanitarian situation or the hardships that its people are subjected to. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)