[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) on the 13th (local time) issued a joint statement supporting the United States' diplomacy toward North Korea and urging North Korea to engage in dialogue. This is interpreted as expressing support for the new North Korea policy prepared by the Biden administration.
The joint statement released by the G7 summit included the content, "We welcome the United States' intention to continue diplomatic efforts in coordination with all relevant partners and urge North Korea to resume dialogue and engagement."
The G7 leaders also stated, "We call for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," adding, "We urge North Korea to verifiably and irreversibly abandon its illicit weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs in accordance with all United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions (sanctions against North Korea)."
The statement further urged, "We call on all countries to fully implement these resolutions and their related sanctions," targeting China to participate in North Korea sanctions.
The G7 leaders emphasized, "We urge North Korea to respect everyone's human rights and to immediately resolve the issue of abductees."
This is understood as the G7 leaders reaching a consensus that North Korean human rights cannot be excluded from the Biden administration's human rights prioritization policy.
The mention of the abductee issue appears to reflect the position of Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga urged the resolution of Japan's abductee issue during his first summit meeting with President Biden.
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