In relation to today’s discussion in the European Parliament on the situation in North Korea and particularly on the persistence of provocations by Kim Jong-un, Victor Boştinaru S&D Group vice-president said:

“The latest tests by North Korea, including an intercontinental ballistic missile over Japan and a hydrogen bomb equivalent to several times those of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, are absolutely unacceptable and in blatant violation of all UN Security Council resolutions.

“We need to do everything we can to stop an escalation that could bring devastating consequences, not only in the Korean peninsula, but also in the wider region and in the entire world.

“The S&D Group welcomes the efforts of the High Representative Mogherini to have a concerted approach, but regrets the reluctance of the Security Council to adopt yesterday heavier sanctions, including a ban on petrol imports.

“The EU must make use of its diplomacy and put additional economic pressure through autonomous sanctions, which we call on the Council to adopt with no further delay.

“At the same time it’s necessary to have a firm and convincing stance of regional actors, such as China and Russia, who are aware of the consequences they would face in the event of a nuclear escalation which obviously knows no borders.”

“We can see that by working together effectively – as was the case in the co-operation on the Iran nuclear deal – the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula is indeed possible.”