G7 Nations Condemn North Korea’s Latest ICBM Launch in Unified Statement.

New York: The top diplomats of the Group of Seven (G7) countries have issued a joint statement condemning North Korea's recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch in the "strongest terms," as they reiterated their demand for the "complete" denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Representatives from the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain, and the High Representative of the European Union convened to address the situation following Pyongyang's claim of a successful test-fire of a Hwasong-19 ICBM.According to Yonhap News Agency, the G7 officials expressed their disapproval of North Korea's decision to prioritize its unlawful weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs over the welfare of its citizens. They emphasized that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) continues to advance its nuclear and ballistic capabilities, escalating its destabilizing activities. The diplomats urged Pyongyang to cease its nuclear and WMD programs, advocatin g for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a verifiable and irreversible manner, in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions.The G7 reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating with international partners to achieve peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and to uphold the rules-based international order. Additionally, a separate joint statement by South Korea, the U.S, Japan, and ten other nations denounced North Korea's ICBM launch, highlighting its violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions and its threat to global nonproliferation efforts.Robert Wood, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., emphasized the necessity of addressing the sheer volume of North Korean missile launches to prevent normalization of such destabilizing behavior. The statement also revealed that a U.S.-introduced press statement to the Security Council faced opposition from two council members, reportedly China and Russia, who refused to join the unified denunciation. The coalition urged North Korea to return to negotiations, comply with its international obligations, and abandon its WMD and ballistic missile programs.