Statement by Ambassador Mitsuru Kitano at the Board of Governors Meeting, November 2016
2016/11/17
Agenda Item 5(a): Application of safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
At the outset, Japan reiterates its grave concern about the ongoing nuclear and missile-related activities of North Korea, having been conducted in violation of relevant United Nations Security Council and IAEA resolutions. I wish to remind the Board that North Korea conducted two nuclear tests and launched well over 20 ballistic missiles this year, and continued its advancement of nuclear development in Yongbyon. In response, the UN Security Council repeatedly expressed its determination to take further significant measures in the event of a further nuclear test or launch by North Korea, and the IAEA adopted by consensus a resolution expressing unequivocal opposition of its Member States to the nuclear tests and the ongoing nuclear development of North Korea. It is deeply regrettable and totally unacceptable that North Korea has, not only failed to even demonstrate its intention to take concrete steps, but repeatedly engaged in further provocative actions including ballistic missile launches. I wish to underline that North Korea’s nuclear development and the repeated launches of ballistic missiles are two sides of the same coin. Right before our eyes, North Korea is carrying out a plan which poses a grave threat to Northeast Asia and beyond. We should recognize that the threat has now reached a new dimension.
I stress once again it is important that each State strictly implement UN Security Council Resolution 2270 and other relevant UNSCR resolutions, and that the international community act in a resolute manner toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Japan will continue to cooperate with the countries concerned to step up the pressure on North Korea through measures such as adoption of a new UN Security Council resolution which includes further sanctions.
Mr. Chair,
Japan once again strongly urges North Korea to sincerely take the strong warnings and condemnation repeatedly expressed by the international community, and to comply faithfully and fully with the series of relevant Security Council resolutions including Resolution 2270 without taking further provocative actions such as nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches. Japan further urges North Korea to take concrete steps toward denuclearization without delay. In particular, North Korea is required to abandon all its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes, including any uranium enrichment activities, in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, to immediately cease all related activities, to retract its announcement of withdrawal from the NPT, and to act strictly in accordance with its IAEA Safeguards Agreement.
Mr. Chair,
As an international organization that assumes the role of verifying North Korea’s nuclear programme, the IAEA has continued its effort to keep abreast of developments in that programme to the extent possible through collection and evaluation of safeguards-relevant information. The IAEA has also maintained its readiness to resume monitoring and verification activities in North Korea by preparing safeguards equipment and relevant procedures, as well as staff training. Japan highly appreciates these efforts by the Secretariat, and stands ready to provide support, as needed, in this respect. We hope that the IAEA will continue to play an important role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issues.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
At the outset, Japan reiterates its grave concern about the ongoing nuclear and missile-related activities of North Korea, having been conducted in violation of relevant United Nations Security Council and IAEA resolutions. I wish to remind the Board that North Korea conducted two nuclear tests and launched well over 20 ballistic missiles this year, and continued its advancement of nuclear development in Yongbyon. In response, the UN Security Council repeatedly expressed its determination to take further significant measures in the event of a further nuclear test or launch by North Korea, and the IAEA adopted by consensus a resolution expressing unequivocal opposition of its Member States to the nuclear tests and the ongoing nuclear development of North Korea. It is deeply regrettable and totally unacceptable that North Korea has, not only failed to even demonstrate its intention to take concrete steps, but repeatedly engaged in further provocative actions including ballistic missile launches. I wish to underline that North Korea’s nuclear development and the repeated launches of ballistic missiles are two sides of the same coin. Right before our eyes, North Korea is carrying out a plan which poses a grave threat to Northeast Asia and beyond. We should recognize that the threat has now reached a new dimension.
I stress once again it is important that each State strictly implement UN Security Council Resolution 2270 and other relevant UNSCR resolutions, and that the international community act in a resolute manner toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Japan will continue to cooperate with the countries concerned to step up the pressure on North Korea through measures such as adoption of a new UN Security Council resolution which includes further sanctions.
Mr. Chair,
Japan once again strongly urges North Korea to sincerely take the strong warnings and condemnation repeatedly expressed by the international community, and to comply faithfully and fully with the series of relevant Security Council resolutions including Resolution 2270 without taking further provocative actions such as nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches. Japan further urges North Korea to take concrete steps toward denuclearization without delay. In particular, North Korea is required to abandon all its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes, including any uranium enrichment activities, in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, to immediately cease all related activities, to retract its announcement of withdrawal from the NPT, and to act strictly in accordance with its IAEA Safeguards Agreement.
Mr. Chair,
As an international organization that assumes the role of verifying North Korea’s nuclear programme, the IAEA has continued its effort to keep abreast of developments in that programme to the extent possible through collection and evaluation of safeguards-relevant information. The IAEA has also maintained its readiness to resume monitoring and verification activities in North Korea by preparing safeguards equipment and relevant procedures, as well as staff training. Japan highly appreciates these efforts by the Secretariat, and stands ready to provide support, as needed, in this respect. We hope that the IAEA will continue to play an important role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issues.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.