This photo provided by the North Korean government shows what it says is a test launch of the new “Hwasong-19” intercontinental ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea on October 31. (AP)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 6 (AP): A U.S.-led statement endorsed by 10 of the 15 members of the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday condemned North Korea’s recent intercontinental ballistic missile launch and called Pyongyang to resume negotiations and abandon its missile programs. The statement follows a series of recent North Korean missile launches, including Thursday’s test of the country’s latest ICBM, designed to reach the United States.

The 10 Security Council members said the launch – which adds to more than 100 North Korean ballistic missile launches since 2022 – violates several Security Council resolutions banning the North from using ballistic missile technology and endangers international peace and security. Foreign ministers from the wealthy Group of Seven democracies also decried last week’s launch in a statement released Tuesday, saying North Korea “continues to develop its illegal nuclear and missile capabilities and intensify its destabilizing activities.” “.

The G7 brings together Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. At the United Nations, Deputy U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood read the statement to reporters surrounded by diplomats from the other nine signatory countries: Ecuador, France, Japan, Malta, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

They were joined by representatives from three countries who will join the council in January: Denmark, Greece and Panama. Five Security Council countries did not support this statement: Russia, China, Algeria, Mozambique and Guyana. In the statement, the 10 Council members said the United States was seeking the required approval from the 15 Council members for a press release condemning the ICBM test and calling on North Korea to adhere to legally binding sanctions of the Security Council.

But the statement said two countries – identified by council members as North Korea’s allies Russia and China – refused to join in denouncing Pyongyang’s actions. The ten members stressed that all Council countries are required to implement sanctions against North Korea, urging all Security Council member countries to shoulder this responsibility, maintain international peace and security, and respect the treaty prohibiting the proliferation of nuclear weapons.