Roundup: EU, major European countries welcome new UN resolution on DPRK

The European Union (EU), and some major European countries on Wednesday welcomed the United Nations Security Council's adoption of the resolution to impose new sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement that the resolution was a clear expression of the unity and resolve of the international community to uphold the global non-proliferation regime, and to target DPRK's "illegal nuclear, weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs and its ability to finance them".

"The EU will swiftly transpose this resolution into EU law and will consider whether additional autonomous restrictive measures are called for to complement this resolution," said the statement.

The DPRK must abide by all its international obligations and the government of the DPRK needs to re-engage in a credible and meaningful way with the international community, in particular in the framework of the six-party talks, it said.

The statement noted that the DPRK's actions earlier this year were a grave threat to international peace and security in the region and beyond.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond on Wednesday hailed the UN Security Council's adoption of the resolution, saying in a statement that "the fact that this Resolution was passed unanimously demonstrates that the international community is prepared to take tough measures in response to such violations."

DPRK "must put a stop to these provocations and take tangible steps to re-engage constructively with the international community," he said. "If it is willing to change its approach and take concrete steps towards re-engagement, it will find that the international community will respond positively."

"If it continues on its current course, prioritizing the development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programs over improving the well-being of its own people, it will face further isolation and Security Council action," warned Hammond.

A spokesman of the German Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "the new sanctions are a necessary and logical response as well as an important signal to those in power in Pyongyang following the unacceptable provocations, the conduction of a nuclear test and the launch of a rocket using ballistic technology."

With a unanimous decision, noted the spokesman, the international community demonstrates that it does not accept "the blatant violation of numerous Security Council resolutions and the threat to regional security and world peace."

Only a united action of the international community can move DPRK to fulfill its international commitments and to abandon its nuclear program, the spokesman added.

French Foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault also on Wednesday welcomed the latest UN Security Council's adoption of resolution on DPRK, saying in a press release that it was "a firm and determined response from the international community to the irresponsible and unacceptable provocations of this country (the DPRK)."

Ayrault stressed that France had already "firmly condemned" the nuclear test of January 6 and the rocket launch of Febrauary 7 by the DPRK.

Ayrault also called on the DPRK to immediately comply with its international obligations and to "conduct the outright, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of its nuclear and missile programs".

The UN Security Council unanimously approved Wednesday, in a 15-0 vote, the new sanctions against the DPRK, which conducted its fourth nuclear test on January 6 and went ahead with a long-range rocket launch on February 7. Endit