Top diplomats from the Group of 7 industrialized democracies are jointly expressing support for Ukraine and a U.S. ceasefire proposal in the three-year-old war.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied the U.S. was in a trade war Friday as he wrapped up his trip to a meeting of top diplomats from the G7 industrialized democracies.

The Group of Seven (G7) economically developed Western democracies has after lengthy talks agreed on a common position on the US course towards securing a ceasefire in Ukraine. "All these seven foreign ministers agree with the US proposal of a ceasefire that is supported by Ukrainians,

North Korea on Monday vowed to "steadily update and strengthen" its nuclear arsenal, rejecting a joint statement by the Group of Seven Foreign Ministers calling for Pyongyang to give up its nuclear ambitions.

North Korea's Foreign Ministry said that its "nuclear armed forces will exist forever as a powerful means of justice," according to state media.

North Korea on Monday denounced the top diplomats of the Group of 7 (G7) countries' joint call for Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons, threatening to strengthen its nuclear forces both in "quality and quantity.