By Kang Seung-woo
South Korea and the European Union (EU) have agreed to utilize all means to end North Korea's nuclear weapons program, the foreign ministry said, Thursday.
The agreement was made during a meeting between Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, on the sidelines of a global conference in Brussels, Wednesday.
Sharing the view that Pyongyang's fifth nuclear test confirmed that its weapons program is a serious and urgent issue to tackle immediately, Yun and Mogherini agreed to cooperate on a fresh resolution against the North from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and implementing it as soon as possible, according to the ministry.
During the meeting, Yun asked the EU to launch unilateral sanctions and increase diplomatic pressure on the North to return the country to the path of denuclearization, the ministry said. Also, he appreciated the EU's continued participation in the international community's moves to denuclearize the repressive state.
In May, the EU adopted new restrictions on North Korea that include a prohibition on the import of petroleum products and luxury goods from the North, a restriction on the transfer of funds to and from the country and a ban on aircraft or ships operated by or originating from the North entering EU territory. The total number of people and entities subject to EU measures against North Korea is 66 and 42, respectively.
In addition to the sanctions, the EU has issued a statement condemning North Korean nuclear and ballistic missiles tests on five occasions this year.
Mogherini expressed serious concern about progress in the North's nuclear and missile capabilities and promised to consider measures targeting the North's nuclear weapons development capabilities, including further strengthening EU sanctions, the ministry said.
The meeting took place as the UNSC is working on new sanctions against North Korea following its recent nuclear test and missile launches. The latest nuclear test was estimated to be the most powerful explosion yet of North Korea's five blasts, indicating speedy progress in its nuclear technology.
According to media reports, the United States and China are in talks to restrict the North's energy trade, including coal, iron ore and crude oil, in response to its nuclear test in defiance of U.N. resolutions.
"The meeting was significant in that we agreed to increase cooperation on the North Korean nuclear program with the EU ― an important supporter for the international community's strong response to the North Korean nuclear issue," the ministry said.
Along with the North Korea issue, Yun and Mogherini agreed to hold a South Korea-EU summit next year and other high-level meetings to expand bilateral cooperation on global issues.
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DAILY FORTUNE - SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 
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