EU Condemns North Korea's Long-Range Missile Launch... Urges UN Security Council to Respond

"North Korea Threatens All Countries... Ready to Support New Diplomatic Procedures"

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chae-seok] The European Union (EU) criticized North Korea on the 19th (local time) for launching a long-range ballistic missile the previous day, calling it a dangerous and reckless act that threatens international and regional peace and security.

A spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU's diplomatic service, stated in a press release that day, "North Korea's nuclear and missile programs threaten all countries," and emphasized that "an appropriate response from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is necessary."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The EEAS urged, "North Korea must immediately cease ballistic missile launches and engage in constructive dialogue with the United States and South Korea," adding, "The EU will never tolerate North Korea's undermining of the international non-proliferation regime."

It continued, "The only path to sustainable peace and security is for North Korea to take actions that guarantee the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," and added, "The EU is ready to support new diplomatic processes."