SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korea’s foreign minister on Friday called a group of seven prosperous democracies a “tool to secure U.S. hegemony” and called for North Korea’s denuclearization.
The top G-7 diplomats who recently met in Japan jointly condemned North Korea’s recent ballistic missile test and reaffirmed its commitment to the goal of completely giving up its nuclear weapons. Their communiqué was being prepared as a template for leaders at next month’s G-7 summit in Hiroshima, where North Korea’s nuclear program is likely to be discussed again.
North Korean Foreign Minister Choi Sun-hee said that if the G7 countries of the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and the European Union (EU) reach an agreement, North Korea will “strongly respond.” said he would take action. Behavioral attempt to harm the fundamental interests of North Korea.”
“The G7, a cohesive group of a handful of selfish nations, does not represent a just international community, but rather a role model to ensure U.S. hegemony,” Choi said in a statement released by North Korean state media. It functions as a political tool. Choi said the G7 communiqué “maliciously” attacked North Korea’s legitimate exercise of sovereignty.
North Korea has been adamant that it was forced to develop nuclear weapons because it faced a nuclear threat from the United States. US regular military exercises with South Korea are said to be rehearsals for an invasion, but US and South Korean officials say their exercises are defensive and have no intention of attacking North Korea. says.
North Korea has tested about 100 missiles since early last year in response to US military exercises with South Korea. However, many experts believe that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is using rival military exercises to advance his weapons program, strengthen domestic leadership, and legally enforce the sanctions regime in order to secure the lifting of international sanctions. He said that there is a high possibility that it will be used as an excuse to be recognized as a nuclear-weapon state.
North Korea has been subject to 11 UN sanctions over past nuclear and ballistic missile tests banned by UN Security Council resolutions. Kim has previously said these sanctions are “suffocating” the North Korean economy.
In a communiqué on Tuesday, the G-7 foreign minister declared that North Korea would never have nuclear-weapon state status in the sense of her NPT.
The treaty was intended to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons beyond her five military forces of the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France. It demands that non-nuclear member states not seek nuclear weapons in exchange for a five-strength pledge to move towards nuclear disarmament and guarantee non-nuclear-weapon states access to peaceful nuclear technologies for energy production.
Choi also said North Korea’s position as a nuclear power “will remain a stark reality that cannot be denied.” She said that North Korea withdrew from the treaty 20 years ago, so it was relieved of all its obligations under the treaty. North Korea joined the NPT in 1985, but announced its withdrawal from the NPT in 2003, citing US aggression. Since 2006, North Korea has conducted six nuclear and numerous other weapons tests to develop nuclear warhead missiles to attack the United States and South Korea.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry said late Friday that North Korea must stop threatening its neighbors and heed international concerns about its “reckless” nuclear and missile programs. Deputy spokeswoman Lee Hyo-jung told reporters that North Korea cannot get what it wants from its nuclear program and should not insist on the “wrong path.”
Kim said earlier this week that his country had built its first military spy satellite. Last week, North Korea tested a solid-fuel ICBM for the first time. North Korea is expected to conduct more weapons tests, and the US and South Korea will continue joint air exercises next week.
