17/07/23 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 14 July, in a statement issued by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Union condemned the launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK - North Korea) of a new intercontinental ballistic missile on 12 July, the fourth launch this year. “The DPRK must immediately comply with its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions by abandoning all nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missile programmes and existing nuclear programmes”, according to the statement. The EU also pointed out that the DPRK will never have the status of a nuclear-weapon state under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and called on the international community to react in a united and firm manner. Finally, it expressed its support for the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Japan. (PLD)