EU leaders to call for end to North Korea’s weapons programme

European Union leaders will demand on Thursday that North Korea end its nuclear and ballistic weapons programme, according to the draft final statement of an EU summit.

European Union, EU Summit, North Korea weapons, North Korea nuclear weapons, Kim Jong Un, EU sanctions, North Korea sanctions, World news, Indian Express

A cyclist drives past the Europa Building, also known as “The Egg” which was evacuated after toxic fumes from kitchen drains, forcing the European Union to switch the venue of its summit in Brussels less than 24 hours before leaders were due to begin the two-day meeting, in Brussels, Belgium, October 18, 2017. REUTERS/File

European Union leaders will demand on Thursday that North Korea end its nuclear and ballistic weapons programme, according to the draft final statement of an EU summit. The statement, to be delivered after a discussion among leaders on Thursday evening, will follow the latest EU sanctions agreed on Monday by foreign ministers, which go beyond United Nations measures.

Leaders will tell Pyongyang “to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner”, the draft said.

Leaders will also say they are ready to consider further measures, without specifying what they might be. Diplomats said they could include sanctions on non-EU countries still doing business with Pyongyang.

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Among other steps, the European Union has now banned the sale of oil and oil products to North Korea, although that is largely symbolic, aimed at encouraging countries that have more significant levels of trade with the country to follow suit.

China and Russia have resisted an outright ban on crude exports.

The EU has imposed a blanket ban on doing business with North Korea.

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