Statement by Ambassador Mitsuru Kitano at the Board of Governors Meeting starting on Monday, 7 September 2015

Agenda Item 7(b): Application of safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
 
Thank you, Madam Chair.
 
North Korea’s ongoing nuclear and missile-related activities, including uranium enrichment, 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 becoming united and urging North Korea to take concrete actions.
 
 
 
 
Madam Chair,
 
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, and urging North Korea to return to the NPT and its IAEA safeguards agreement without delay.
 
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. Furthermore, the Director General’s report last month makes references to the observed developments such as the ongoing activities at the 5MW(e) graphite moderated reactor, the construction of what appears to be an electrical switchyard at the light water reactor site, and the continued construction of an extension to the building housing the centrifuge enrichment facility within the Yongbyon site, as a matter of serious concern. 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.
 
 
 
 
Madam Chair,
 
In accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and the September 2005 Six-Party Talks Joint Statement, 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, Madam Chair.