The Group of Seven (G-7) member nations said that North Korea poses a threat to international peace and warned that they were ready to take tougher measures unless Pyongyang abandons its nuclear program.

G-7 leaders said on Saturday in a communique issued following the two-day G-7 summit in the Italian town of Taormina in Sicily that North Korea, a top priority on the international agenda, increasingly poses new levels of threat to international peace and stability and the non-proliferation regime through its repeated and ongoing breaches of international law.

The leaders said that North Korea must immediately and fully comply with all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and abandon all nuclear and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.

The G-7 leaders condemned the North’s nuclear and missile launches in the strongest terms, adding that they are ready to strengthen measures against Pyongyang unless it abandons all nuclear programs.

In the joint statement, the leaders called on the international community to redouble its efforts to ensure the sustained, comprehensive and thorough implementation of relevant UNSC resolutions.

In addition, the leaders urged North Korea to address humanitarian and human rights concerns, including the immediate resolution of the abduction issue.

[Photo : ]