Foreign ministers from the Group of Eight nations agreed Wednesday that if North Korea carries through with its long-range rocket launch that it would be a "clear violation" of U.N. resolutions.
The consensus was reached at the first day of a meeting in Washington of the ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States — four of which are permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
In discussing North Korea, much of the debate focused on how they should stand against Pyongyang in the event of the launch as preparations appeared to approach the final stages, officials involved in the two-day meeting said.