The European Union on Saturday condemned a significant increase in missile launches by North Korea and called for a “decisive and unified global response,” including the implementation of all UN sanctions, France Presse reported.

• Why Sanctions Can’t Stop the Acceleration of North Korea’s Weapons Programs

The EU considers the “unprecedented” number of missile launches, including intercontinental ballistic missiles and short-range ballistic missiles, a “dangerous escalation” by Pyongyang, according to a statement by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

• “The European Union calls on UN Member States, in particular members of the UN Security Council, to ensure the full implementation of sanctions to prevent the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from receiving equipment, knowledge and funding to support its illicit weapons programs,” he added.

According to him, “the unprecedented number of ballistic missiles launched by North Korea in 2022 is a disturbing illustration of its intentions to continue undermining the global non-proliferation regime”:

• “It poses a serious threat to all nations and undermines regional and international peace and security.”

The EU also emphasizes that North Korea’s actions “cannot and will never grant it the status of a nuclear-weapon state” under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, “or any other special status for that matter.”

She reiterated her call for North Korea to “stop its aggressive and destabilizing actions, respect international law and resume dialogue with all parties involved.” The EU also stressed its “full solidarity” with Japan and South Korea.

North Korea continues to escalate the situation

North Korea fired four short-range ballistic missiles into the sea in the west on Saturday morning, the South Korean military said, adding that the missiles flew about 130 kilometers at an altitude of about 20 kilometers.

North Korea this week launched a series of missiles, including a possible intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that failed, prompting condemnation from Washington, Seoul and Tokyo and speculation that it may be preparing to resume nuclear tests for the first time since 2017.

Saturday’s launch came as the United States and South Korea wrapped up the Vigilant Storm exercise, which began on October 31.

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, about 240 military aircraft and two American B-1B strategic bombers participated in the joint military exercises.

This is the first time since 2017 that the B-1B has been deployed in US-South Korean exercises, demonstrating the “shared defense capabilities and determination of the Republic of Korea and the United States to resolutely respond to any provocations by North Korea, as well as the willingness of the United States to carry out firm commitment to enhanced deterrence,” the JCS said in a statement.

On Friday, Pyongyang called on the US and South Korea to stop “provocative” air exercises.

South Korea sent warplanes in response to 180 North Korean military flights near the countries’ shared border on Friday.

On Wednesday, North Korea launched a record 23 missiles in a day, one of which landed off the coast of South Korea for the first time.

In recent years, the UN Security Council has been divided over how to approach North Korea, and in May China and Russia vetoed a US initiative to impose additional UN sanctions in response to North Korean missile launches.