South Korea and France have voiced in unison that North Korea should give up its nuclear and missile programs.

According to Seoul’s Foreign Ministry, Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Kim Hong-kyun and France's Director-General for Political Affairs and Security Nicolas de Riviere made the call in a joint statement on Wednesday.

The statement, which came after the first-ever high-level talks between South Korea and France on the North’s nuclear issue in Paris, urged Pyongyang to give up its all nuclear and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. It also called on the North to abide by all of its international obligations.  

The two officials also denounced Pyongyang in the strongest terms for continuing provocative actions that cause instability.

Kim will hold high-level talks on the North’s nuclear issue with EU officials in Belgium on Thursday.

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