G-8 Ministers Condemn North Korea's Nuclear, Missile Programs

London, April 11 (Jiji Press)--Foreign ministers from the Group of Eight major countries Thursday strongly condemned North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. The G-8 ministers "condemned in the strongest possible terms" North Korea's continued nuclear and missile development, including uranium enrichment, they said in a joint statement issued after a two-day meeting in London. The wording means that the G-8 countries got united in sending out a strong warning to North Korea at a time when tensions are rising due to a possible missile launch by Pyongyang. The G-8 groups Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and Russia. The condemnation of North Korea came at the request of Japan. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said his country's concern about North Korea was shared widely. The G-8 statement condemned North Korea's current aggressive rhetoric including war threats, saying that "this will only serve to further isolate" the country. North Korea needs to abide by all U.N. Security Council resolutions, abandon nuclear and missile programs and refrain from further provocative acts, the statement said. Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, British Foreign Secretary William Hague warned that North Korea will face further sanctions if it goes ahead with a nuclear test or a missile launch. In their statement, the G-8 ministers also "expressed concerns over the systematic and widespread human rights violations" in North Korea. The ministers "emphasized the need to address humanitarian issues including abductions and family reunions," the statement said. END