On the morning of the 24th, when North Korea launched a space launch vehicle presumed to be a ballistic missile, citizens were watching related news on the broadcast in the waiting room of Seoul Station. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) and the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy strongly condemned North Korea's launch of a satellite using ballistic missile technology.
According to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 24th, they stated in a joint declaration that "North Korea's launch is a clear violation of multiple United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions" and emphasized that "it poses a serious threat to regional and international peace and security."
They further urged, "We once again call on North Korea to completely, verifiably, and irreversibly abandon its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, weapons of mass destruction, and ballistic missiles."
They also demanded that "UNSC member states fulfill their responsibilities" and called on "North Korea to come to meaningful diplomatic talks and engage in unconditional dialogue with South Korea, the United States, and Japan."
This statement is interpreted as a criticism of the lack of swift and strong responses to North Korea due to some UNSC members such as China and Russia.
North Korea attempted another satellite launch on this day after failing to launch a military reconnaissance satellite in May, but it failed again.
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