SEOUL: North Korea’s missile tests are “serious, unlawful” provocations, senior officials from South Korea, the United States and Japan said on Wednesday (Jun 8), as they urged it to return to dialogue and accept help to tackle COVID-19.
South Korea Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori levelled the criticism as they met in Seoul, days after North Korea conducted its latest missile tests and with signs it is preparing what would be its first nuclear test since 2017.
The three-way meeting of the countries’ second most senior diplomats, the first such gathering since November and the first since President Yoon Suk-yeol took office in South Korea in May, highlighted international anxiety about North Korea’s intensifying weapons tests.
The three countries urged North Korea to abide by international sanctions and immediately cease actions that “escalate tensions or destabilise the region”, they said in a statement.
They also pledged to ramp up their security cooperation to meet the North’s threats, with Sherman reaffirming US defence commitments, including “extended deterrence”, which means the ability of the US military, particularly its nuclear forces, to deter attacks on allies.
“They stressed that a path to serious and sustained dialogue remains open and urged the DPRK to return to negotiations, while also expressing their hope that the DPRK will respond positively to international offers of assistance to fight against COVID-19,” they said, referring to North Korea by the initials of its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
South Korea Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori levelled the criticism as they met in Seoul, days after North Korea conducted its latest missile tests and with signs it is preparing what would be its first nuclear test since 2017.
The three-way meeting of the countries’ second most senior diplomats, the first such gathering since November and the first since President Yoon Suk-yeol took office in South Korea in May, highlighted international anxiety about North Korea’s intensifying weapons tests.
The three countries urged North Korea to abide by international sanctions and immediately cease actions that “escalate tensions or destabilise the region”, they said in a statement.
They also pledged to ramp up their security cooperation to meet the North’s threats, with Sherman reaffirming US defence commitments, including “extended deterrence”, which means the ability of the US military, particularly its nuclear forces, to deter attacks on allies.
“They stressed that a path to serious and sustained dialogue remains open and urged the DPRK to return to negotiations, while also expressing their hope that the DPRK will respond positively to international offers of assistance to fight against COVID-19,” they said, referring to North Korea by the initials of its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
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