The European External Action Service spokeswoman described North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile into the sea a few hours earlier as a “new provocation” on Wednesday 2 October.
This “undermines the efforts by the international community to build trust, enhance security and nurture a sustained peace process on the Korean peninsula”, she added in a statement. The missile reportedly fell back into the Japanese exclusive economic zone, while North Korea has just announced discussions with the Americans next week.
The spokesperson therefore reiterated her call to Pyongyang to refrain from any action contrary to United Nations Security Council resolutions and to commit itself to credible and meaningful diplomatic negotiations. “We look forward to the resumption of working-level talks between the US and the DPRK”, the spokeswoman said. She stated that the EU was ready to support all international efforts to find a “diplomatic solution leading to lasting peace and security on the Korean Peninsula”.
According to the spokesperson, the EU’s ultimate objective remains “the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement by the DPRK of its nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and its ballistic missile programmes of all ranges”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)