G8 expresses concerns about DPRK's provocations

WASHINGTON - The leaders of the Group of Eight major industrialized nations have deep concerns about provocative actions by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and urged Pyongyang to abandon all nuclear and ballistic missile programs, the group said in a joint statement after the G8 summit concluded at Camp David in the US state of Maryland Saturday.

"We continue to have deep concerns about provocative actions of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) that threaten regional stability," the leaders said in the statement.

Voicing concerns about the DPRK's nuclear program, the leaders urged the country to comply with its international obligations and abandon all nuclear and ballistic missile programs in a "complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner," according to the statement.

Calling on all United Nations member states to join the G8 in fully implementing the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the leaders affirmed their will to call for UN action, in response to additional DPRK acts, including ballistic missile launches and nuclear tests, said the statement.  

The DPRK announced in March its plan to launch in April an "earth observation" satellite, using a long-range rocket, in a bid to mark the 100th birthday of its late leader Kim Il-sung, but confirmed on April 13 that the earth observation satellite launched earlier that day failed to enter orbit.

Following the launch, the United States announced that it would not go forward with the food aid deal with the DPRK, accusing Pyongyang of using the satellite launch as a cover for its long- range ballistic missile test.