The leaders of six countries, including South Korea and Britain, have urged countries that use the euro to actively address the debt crisis in Europe.

In a letter sent to the Group of 20 nations, the leaders said Thursday that if the governments of the euro zone fail to tackle the sudden plunge in the euro, the world economy could suffer as a result.

The British prime minister’s office said that the leaders sent the letter in the wake of French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s recent statement that the G20 must spearhead efforts to find a way for the world economy to head toward growth.

Meanwhile, the White House said U.S. President Barack Obama urged European leaders to take firm and resolute measures to handle the economic turmoil in the euro zone.