The Federal Government condemns the illegal launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile by North Korea on 18 February 2023 in the strongest possible terms. The missile launch blatantly endangers both the security of our partners in the region and international security.

North Korea is obliged to completely, irreversibly, and verifiably end its programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. North Korea’s continued violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions are deeply worrying. We call on North Korea to fully implement the decisions of the United Nations Security Council and to take up the offers put forward by the United States and South Korea to engage in serious dialogue.

Referring to the ballistic missile test by North Korea, the Foreign Ministers of the G7 on February 18 stated that North Korea’s reckless behavior demands a unified response by the international community, including further significant measures taken by the UN Security Council.