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Two days after North Korea launched an ICBM, foreign ministers from the G7, a group of seven major countries, issued a condemnation statement.

We urged additional serious measures ahead of the UN Security Council meeting tomorrow (22nd) to deal with North Korea's missile provocation.



Seung-mo Nam is a correspondent in Washington.



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G7 foreign ministers released a statement and said they condemn in the strongest terms North Korea's shameless ICBM launch on the 18th.



"This reckless action, along with evidence of ongoing nuclear-related activities, is a clear indication of North Korea's willingness to develop and diversify its nuclear arsenal and missile capabilities."



The statement specifically stressed that North Korea's actions demand a concerted and strong response from the international community, including additional significant measures by the UN Security Council.



"We urge all countries to fully and effectively implement all Security Council measures and sanctions against North Korea and to address the proliferation risk of weapons of mass destruction in North Korea as an urgent priority."



It is interpreted as ordering the roles of China and Russia, which are permanent members of the UN Security Council, to be held tomorrow to deal with North Korea's missile provocation.



UN Security Council Resolution 2397 on sanctions against North Korea stipulates that North Korea should discuss the automatic strengthening of oil supply sanctions against North Korea in the event of a nuclear test or ICBM launch.



However, when China and Russia exercised their veto power during North Korea's ICBM launch in May, the resolution on additional sanctions against North Korea was canceled in a vote, and the Security Council meeting convened earlier this month also voted on the resolution amid opposition from both China and Russia, which argued that North Korea's provocation was due to the threat of the United States. It has ended without reaching even.



If the adoption of additional sanctions resolutions at tomorrow's Security Council meeting fails, Western countries are expected to push for adoption of the chairman's statement at the Security Council level, and it is noteworthy how China and Russia will react.