Statement by Ambassador Mitsuru Kitano at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting in September 2016
2016/9/21
Agenda Item 8(b): Application of safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I have repeatedly stated at the past IAEA Board meetings that 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, and are in clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions. It is deeply regrettable that I must repeat this statement in this meeting of the Board to highlight our position concerning the two nuclear tests and over 20 launches of ballistic missiles this year by North Korea, as well as its nuclear activities including uranium enrichment and reprocessing. North Korea’s nuclear development constitutes a grave threat to Japan’s security, and seriously undermines the peace and security of the region as well as the international community. This is in the light of the fact that North Korea, despite the repeated condemnation and warnings of the international community, went ahead with a series of nuclear tests in an unprecedentedly short period of time, as well as the fact that North Korea has repeatedly launched ballistic missiles which could serve as means to deliver nuclear weapons, and that it has been enhancing their capability. These acts by North Korea are totally unacceptable, and Japan condemns North Korea in the strongest possible terms. I stress once again the importance for the international community to act in a resolute manner, including the strict implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2270 adopted in March this year. Moreover, with a view to urging concrete and positive steps on the part of North Korea, 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, bearing in mind the determination of the Council as expressed in Resolution 2270 to take further significant measures in the event of a further nuclear test or launch by North Korea.
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,
I would like to stress that the IAEA, as an organization that assumes the role of verifying North Korea’s nuclear activities, has adopted the series of resolutions calling upon North Korea to take concrete actions. In response to the continuing violations and provocation by North Korea, IAEA Member States need to be even more united in delivering strong messages. We believe it is important that General Conference next week sends an unequivocal message to North Korea, and in this respect, we seek support of IAEA Member States for an adoption of General Conference resolution containing such message. Japan highly appreciates the Agency’s continued readiness to resume its activities in North Korea, and we fully concur with the Director General’s report dated 19 August which states that it is important for the Agency to remain cognizant of development in North Korea’s nuclear programme to the fullest extent possible. We also concur fully with the Director General’s assessment that the continuation and further development of North Korea’s nuclear programme and its related statements, including those about continuing to boost its nuclear force, are a major cause for concern. We hope that the IAEA will continue to play an important role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issues.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I have repeatedly stated at the past IAEA Board meetings that 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, and are in clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions. It is deeply regrettable that I must repeat this statement in this meeting of the Board to highlight our position concerning the two nuclear tests and over 20 launches of ballistic missiles this year by North Korea, as well as its nuclear activities including uranium enrichment and reprocessing. North Korea’s nuclear development constitutes a grave threat to Japan’s security, and seriously undermines the peace and security of the region as well as the international community. This is in the light of the fact that North Korea, despite the repeated condemnation and warnings of the international community, went ahead with a series of nuclear tests in an unprecedentedly short period of time, as well as the fact that North Korea has repeatedly launched ballistic missiles which could serve as means to deliver nuclear weapons, and that it has been enhancing their capability. These acts by North Korea are totally unacceptable, and Japan condemns North Korea in the strongest possible terms. I stress once again the importance for the international community to act in a resolute manner, including the strict implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2270 adopted in March this year. Moreover, with a view to urging concrete and positive steps on the part of North Korea, 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, bearing in mind the determination of the Council as expressed in Resolution 2270 to take further significant measures in the event of a further nuclear test or launch by North Korea.
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,
I would like to stress that the IAEA, as an organization that assumes the role of verifying North Korea’s nuclear activities, has adopted the series of resolutions calling upon North Korea to take concrete actions. In response to the continuing violations and provocation by North Korea, IAEA Member States need to be even more united in delivering strong messages. We believe it is important that General Conference next week sends an unequivocal message to North Korea, and in this respect, we seek support of IAEA Member States for an adoption of General Conference resolution containing such message. Japan highly appreciates the Agency’s continued readiness to resume its activities in North Korea, and we fully concur with the Director General’s report dated 19 August which states that it is important for the Agency to remain cognizant of development in North Korea’s nuclear programme to the fullest extent possible. We also concur fully with the Director General’s assessment that the continuation and further development of North Korea’s nuclear programme and its related statements, including those about continuing to boost its nuclear force, are a major cause for concern. We hope that the IAEA will continue to play an important role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issues.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.