Vienna, 12.09.2023
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The following countries align themselves with this statement: Türkiye, North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Serbia*, Albania*, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and San Marino.
The European Union would like to thank the Director General for his report to the Board on the “Application of Safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)”, as contained in document GOV/2023/41. The report underlines the longstanding and continuing failure of the DPRK to abide by its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty(NPT).
The EU is deeply concerned about statements from the DPRK that the country intends to continue developing nuclear weapons and their means of delivery and exponentially increase its nuclear arsenal. Our concern is amplified by the Director General’s report of indications of increased activity at the Yongbyon complex and other possible nuclear-related sites as well as activities at the excavated entrances to tunnels at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, consistent with the potential resumption of nuclear testing.
The EU strongly condemns the DPRK’s illegal nuclear and ballistic missile related activities, which constitute a flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. The DPRK’s repeated launches of ballistic and cruise missiles, including solid fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles and attempts to launch purported military satellites using ballistic missile technology in recent weeks further aggravates the serious threat to international and regional peace and security.
Multiple UN Security Council resolutions make it clear that the DPRK is prohibited from conducting nuclear tests and must immediately abandon all 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. The DPRK cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear weapon state under the NPT or any other special status in that regard.
The EU urges the DPRK:
- to refrain from testing nuclear weapons and reaffirm the moratorium in that regard
- to refrain from launches of ballistic missiles, and to introduce a full moratorium on all types of missile launches;
- to refrain from other forms of destabilising action;
- to immediately engage in concrete action to comply with its obligation to abandon its nuclear weapons, any other weapons of mass destruction, its ballistic missiles and dismantle all related programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner;
- to return to full compliance with its obligations under the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon State and the IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and to bring into force an Additional Protocol to that Agreement; and
- to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), without delay and without preconditions.
The EU calls on all UN Member States, especially members of the UN Security Council, to condemn DPRK actions that threaten international peace and security, violate the international non-proliferation architecture and risk undermining the authority of the United Nations Security Council. Similarly, it is critical that all UN Member States, especially Members of the UN Security Council, ensure the full implementation of UN sanctions and urge the DPRK to resume meaningful dialogue with all parties and to cease unlawful activities. This underlines that the DPRK’spossession of nuclear weapons and their means ofdelivery can never be accepted as a normal state of affairs.
It is of utmost importance that the international community is united and vigilant in acting to prevent the flow of finance, components and knowledge that could support the DPRK’s unlawful weapons programmes and the risk of proliferation from the country.
Chair,
The EU also urges the DPRK to engage in meaningful discussions with all relevant parties to build a basis for sustainable peace and security, and to take steps aimed at pursuing complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.It is highly regrettable that the DPRK has not taken concrete steps in this regard. We urge the DPRK to resume discussions with all relevant parties to reach an agreement that would facilitate the Agency’s return to the DPRK. The EU stands ready to support a diplomatic process.
At the First Preparatory Committee for the 11th NPT Review Conference, the EU and its 27 Member States supported a joint statement coordinated by France and the Republic of Korea on the DPRK, with 47 other countries, addressing the DPRK’s multiple violations of UNSC resolutions, underscoring its NPT obligations and urging the DPRK to halt its nuclear programme.
The EU welcomes the IAEA’s DPRK Team’s commitment to monitor the nuclear situation in thecountry. Any verification efforts shall benefit from technical assistance by the IAEA and, as appropriate, the CTBTO.
The IAEA must remain seized of the matter in accordance with the resolutions of the IAEA General Conference. The EU requests the Director General to keep the Board of Governors informed of any developments and to maintain this item on the agenda of its future meetings.
Thank you, Chair.
Source – EEAS