EU strongly condemns North Korean missile launches; supports South Korean dialogue initiative
EU foreign ministers on Monday condemned recent nuclear and ballistic missile tests by the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) as "outright violations of the DPRK's international obligations, […] which represent a serious threat to international peace and security."
"Our position is clear," said High Representative Federica Mogherini following the meeting. The DPRK "is the country against which we have the most restrictive measures and we decided that we will consider adopting further measures." The EU is convinced however that "peace and the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula must be achieved through peaceful means – this excludes military actions."
The EU will consider further appropriate responses in close consultation with key partners and in line with UN Security Council deliberations, while maintaining political dialogue with the Republic of Korea playing a leading role. "We believe that the solution to tensions on the peninsula lies in the peninsula itself and that Seoul has to have full ownership and leadership in the way forward, including through confidence-building measures." Seoul has extended an invitation to Pyongyang to initiate military to military dialogues. "The EU is ready to support these efforts in all possible ways," said Mogherini.