Statement by Ambassador HIKIHARA Takeshi at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting starting on Wednesday, 16 November 2022 Item 5(a): Application of safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
2022/11/16
Thank you, Chair,
It is deeply regrettable that the Director General’s report in September on the application of safeguards in North Korea had to underscore that North Korea’s nuclear activities continue to be a cause for serious concern, and that the continuation of North Korea’s nuclear programme is a clear violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
In September, the IAEA General Conference adopted, by consensus, the resolution entitled “Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement between the Agency and the DPRK”, demonstrating unified determination among IAEA Member States toward the denuclearization of North Korea.
The repeated and persistent provocations by North Korea are unprecedented in both their frequency and their manner. This year, as of today, North Korea has launched more than 50 ballistic missiles, by far the most frequent launches up to now. Japan strongly condemns the unprecedented series of unlawful ballistic missile launches conducted by North Korea this year, including multiple intercontinental ballistic missiles, and the ballistic missile launch on 4 October, which was recklessly flew over Japanese territory.
Chair,
Japan strongly urges North Korea to fully comply with all of its obligations under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and to take concrete steps towards achieving complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all of its nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles of all ranges, as well as related programmes, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Japan also urges North Korea to return to 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 of full implementation of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and calls upon all states to continue working together to this end.
Chair,
Japan commends the impartial efforts of Director General Grossi and his team, in carrying out its mandate in applying comprehensive safeguards in North Korea, and for its work to enhance the Agency’s ability and readiness to verify North Korea’s nuclear programme. It is crucial that the Agency’s expertise, knowledge and experience are maintained, and that the Agency will play an essential role in verifying North Korea’s nuclear programme, if concrete progress towards the complete denuclearization of North Korea is made.
Japan will continue to work closely with the international community to resolve these concerns regarding North Korea.
Thank you, Chair.
It is deeply regrettable that the Director General’s report in September on the application of safeguards in North Korea had to underscore that North Korea’s nuclear activities continue to be a cause for serious concern, and that the continuation of North Korea’s nuclear programme is a clear violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
In September, the IAEA General Conference adopted, by consensus, the resolution entitled “Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement between the Agency and the DPRK”, demonstrating unified determination among IAEA Member States toward the denuclearization of North Korea.
The repeated and persistent provocations by North Korea are unprecedented in both their frequency and their manner. This year, as of today, North Korea has launched more than 50 ballistic missiles, by far the most frequent launches up to now. Japan strongly condemns the unprecedented series of unlawful ballistic missile launches conducted by North Korea this year, including multiple intercontinental ballistic missiles, and the ballistic missile launch on 4 October, which was recklessly flew over Japanese territory.
Chair,
Japan strongly urges North Korea to fully comply with all of its obligations under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and to take concrete steps towards achieving complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all of its nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles of all ranges, as well as related programmes, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Japan also urges North Korea to return to 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 of full implementation of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and calls upon all states to continue working together to this end.
Chair,
Japan commends the impartial efforts of Director General Grossi and his team, in carrying out its mandate in applying comprehensive safeguards in North Korea, and for its work to enhance the Agency’s ability and readiness to verify North Korea’s nuclear programme. It is crucial that the Agency’s expertise, knowledge and experience are maintained, and that the Agency will play an essential role in verifying North Korea’s nuclear programme, if concrete progress towards the complete denuclearization of North Korea is made.
Japan will continue to work closely with the international community to resolve these concerns regarding North Korea.
Thank you, Chair.