G7 Leaders Reiterate Commitment to North Korean Denuclearization
Quick Look
- G7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and urged Pyongyang to resolve the abductee issue and address cryptocurrency thefts.
- They also voiced concerns over China's assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific and supported a U.S.-Iran deal.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
G7 leaders met in France to discuss geopolitical issues. They released a joint statement addressing concerns regarding North Korea, China, and a recent U.S.-Iran deal.
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, June 17 (Yonhap) -- The leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) countries reiterated their commitment to the "complete denuclearization" of North Korea in a joint statement released Wednesday, as they held a summit in France this week.
The leaders of the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Italy issued the statement on geopolitical issues concerning the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and Ukraine, following their meeting in Evian-les-Bains from Monday to Wednesday.
"We express deep concern about North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with U.N. Security Council resolutions," they said in the statement.
They also urged Pyongyang to "immediately" resolve the issue of abductees, who are thought to have been kidnapped by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, and reiterated the need to jointly address North Korea's cryptocurrency thefts and cybercrimes.
In addition, they highlighted the importance of a "free and open" Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law in an apparent expression of concern over China's growing assertiveness in the region.
"We reaffirm our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force or coercion, in the East and South China Seas and across the Taiwan Strait, which should only be resolved peacefully through dialogue," they said.
The leaders welcomed the recent announcement of a U.S.-Iran deal aimed at ending the monthslong war, saying that it provides an "historic" opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and tackling the threats associated with Iran's regional influence and ballistic missile capabilities.
"We support and are ready to contribute to its implementation," they said.
In addition, they reaffirmed that the right of transit passage without restrictions or tolls is the "bedrock of international trade" as they commented on the crucial Strait of Hormuz, which Iran all but closed during the war.
Open Questions
- Will North Korea comply with denuclearization calls?
- What specific actions will G7 take regarding cybercrimes?
- How will China respond to G7's statement on the Indo-Pacific?
