Statement by Minister KUWABARA Atsushi at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting starting on Monday, 7 June 2021, Item 6 (d): Application of safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
2021/6/7
Thank you, Madame Chair,
The Director General’s report on the application of safeguards in North Korea issued last September underscores that the continuation of North Korea’s nuclear programme is a clear violation of relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and is deeply regrettable.
Last September, the General Conference adopted by consensus the resolution entitled “Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement between the Agency and the DPRK”. This resolution demonstrated unified determination among the IAEA Member States, toward the denuclearization of North Korea.
In this regard, we appreciate the updates by Director General in his introductory statement to the Board of Governors, mentioning that the steam plant that serves the Radiochemical Laboratory has continued to operate and the duration of this operation is consistent with the time required for a reprocessing campaign at the Radiochemical Laboratory.
Madame Chair,
Japan is deeply concerned about North Korea’s continued development of nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities in violation of UNSC resolutions. North Korea launched two ballistic missiles on March 25th. The launches threaten the peace and security of Japan and the region. The repeated launches of ballistic missiles by North Korea pose a serious challenge to the international community including Japan. Any ballistic missile launch by North Korea is a clear violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Japan strongly urges North Korea to fully comply with all of its obligations under relevant UNSC resolutions, and to take concrete steps towards achieving complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all of North Korea’s nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles of all ranges, as well as related programmes and facilities, in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions.
Japan calls upon North Korea to come into full compliance with the NPT and to cooperate promptly with the Agency in the full and effective implementation of Agency comprehensive safeguards, including all necessary safeguards activities provided for in the safeguards agreement.
Japan emphasizes the critical importance for all states to fully implement relevant UNSC resolutions, and calls upon all states to continue working together to this end.
Madame Chair,
Japan commends the impartial efforts of the Director General and the Secretariat to apply comprehensive safeguards in North Korea and highly appreciates the Secretariat’s work to enhance the Agency’s ability and readiness to verify North Korea’s nuclear programme, which has been carried out within its mandate. We consider it important that the Agency’s expertise, knowledge and experience are utilized. We hope that the IAEA will take an important role in verifying North Korea’s nuclear programme, if concrete progress towards denuclearization of North Korea is made.
Japan will continue to closely coordinate with the international community toward the resolution of issues of concern regarding North Korea.
Thank you, Madame Chair.
The Director General’s report on the application of safeguards in North Korea issued last September underscores that the continuation of North Korea’s nuclear programme is a clear violation of relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and is deeply regrettable.
Last September, the General Conference adopted by consensus the resolution entitled “Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement between the Agency and the DPRK”. This resolution demonstrated unified determination among the IAEA Member States, toward the denuclearization of North Korea.
In this regard, we appreciate the updates by Director General in his introductory statement to the Board of Governors, mentioning that the steam plant that serves the Radiochemical Laboratory has continued to operate and the duration of this operation is consistent with the time required for a reprocessing campaign at the Radiochemical Laboratory.
Madame Chair,
Japan is deeply concerned about North Korea’s continued development of nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities in violation of UNSC resolutions. North Korea launched two ballistic missiles on March 25th. The launches threaten the peace and security of Japan and the region. The repeated launches of ballistic missiles by North Korea pose a serious challenge to the international community including Japan. Any ballistic missile launch by North Korea is a clear violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Japan strongly urges North Korea to fully comply with all of its obligations under relevant UNSC resolutions, and to take concrete steps towards achieving complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all of North Korea’s nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles of all ranges, as well as related programmes and facilities, in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions.
Japan calls upon North Korea to come into full compliance with the NPT and to cooperate promptly with the Agency in the full and effective implementation of Agency comprehensive safeguards, including all necessary safeguards activities provided for in the safeguards agreement.
Japan emphasizes the critical importance for all states to fully implement relevant UNSC resolutions, and calls upon all states to continue working together to this end.
Madame Chair,
Japan commends the impartial efforts of the Director General and the Secretariat to apply comprehensive safeguards in North Korea and highly appreciates the Secretariat’s work to enhance the Agency’s ability and readiness to verify North Korea’s nuclear programme, which has been carried out within its mandate. We consider it important that the Agency’s expertise, knowledge and experience are utilized. We hope that the IAEA will take an important role in verifying North Korea’s nuclear programme, if concrete progress towards denuclearization of North Korea is made.
Japan will continue to closely coordinate with the international community toward the resolution of issues of concern regarding North Korea.
Thank you, Madame Chair.