Brussels, 23 November 2023
The European Union strongly condemns the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) launch of a military satellite using ballistic missile technology on 21 November.
This represents a clear threat to international peace and security and constitutes a flagrant violation of UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit such launches. The DPRK must cease all illegal and dangerous actions that escalate military tensions in the region.
It is critical that all UN Member States, especially Members of the UN Security Council, urge the DPRK to resume meaningful dialogue with all parties, and ensure the full implementation of UN sanctions with a view to the DPRK abandoning all its nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missile programmes and existing nuclear programmes, in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner and cease all related activities. In this context, the EU urges the DPRK and Russia to refrain from any exchanges of military equipment, missile technology or ammunition and abide by the successive UN Security Council resolutions which clearly prohibit any arms exports or imports involving the DPRK. The EU reiterates its deep concern about deepening military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK, potentially in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, as well as reports of arms transfers for the use in Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and strongly condemns any such transfers.
Immediate DPRK compliance with its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions is the only viable route to sustainable peace and security on the Korean peninsula. The DPRK can never have the status of a nuclear weapon state in accordance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The EU urges the DPRK to refrain from testing nuclear weapons, reaffirm the moratorium in that regard and to return immediately to full compliance with the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon state and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, bring into force the Additional Protocol and sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The DPRK’s use of resources to support its unlawful weapons programmes exacerbates the difficult living conditions and human rights situation endured by much of its population.
The EU also expresses its deep concerns about any behaviour in outer space which could be threatening or perceived as threatening and could lead to uncontrolled escalation. In line with the recently adopted EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence, the EU will use all available tools, to prevent, discourage and, when necessary, appropriately respond to space threats.
The EU expresses its full solidarity with the Republic of Korea and Japan. The EU is ready to work with all relevant partners in promoting a meaningful diplomatic process aimed at building sustainable peace and security through the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.
Source – EU Council