Statement by Ambassador Mitsuru Kitano at the Board of Governors Meeting starting on Thursday, 26 November 2015 Agenda Item 4(a): Application of safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

North Korea’s ongoing nuclear and missile-related activities pose serious threat to peace and security not just in Northeast Asia but to the entire international community. These activities are in violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the September 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks. Japan has been and continues to be most seriously concerned by these activities. I would like to reiterate once again the importance of the international community keeping united approach and urging North Korea to take concrete actions.

Mr. Chairman,

At the NPT Review Conference in April and May this year, a significant number of countries made references to the nuclear and missile development by North
Korea, condemning and expressing concerns about its nuclear tests. Furthermore, the IAEA General Conference in September, in light of the
ongoing nuclear related activities by North Korea mentioned in the Director General’s Report including those at the enrichment facility and the 5MW(e) graphite-moderated reactor, adopted with consensus a resolution which reiterates the international community’s firm opposition to the North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons, and strongly urges North Korea to renounce
its policy of building its nuclear forces.

Despite the repeated calls by the international community, North Korea continues to seek a status of a “nuclear possessor state”, reiterates its intention to possess nuclear weapons and to build up its nuclear forces, and it has not taken any concrete steps toward meeting its denuclearization commitment. In addition, North Korea has been engaged in the enhancement of its capabilities
to deliver weapons of mass destruction through the series of ballistic missile launches. These are all in clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and are matters of grave concern.

Mr. Chairman,

In accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and the Joint Statement of the September 2005 Six-Party Talks, North Korea is required:
- First, not to conduct any further provocation including nuclear tests;
- Second, to abandon all its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes, including any uranium enrichment activities, in a complete,
verifiable and irreversible manner, and immediately cease all related activities;
- Third, to retract its announcement of withdrawal from the NPT; and
- Fourth, to act strictly in accordance with its IAEA Safeguards Agreement.

In addition to these points, North Korea must provide transparency measures, as stipulated in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

In this regard, Japan highly appreciates the Agency’s continued readiness to resume its activities in North Korea, and we hope that the IAEA will continue to play an important role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issues.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.