Statement by Minister IMANISHI Nobuharu at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting starting on Monday, 4 March 2024 Item 6(a): Application of Safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
2024/3/6
Thank you, Chair,
The Director General’s report on the application of safeguards in North Korea at the end of August last year, underscored 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 relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Last September, the IAEA General Conference adopted, by consensus, the resolution entitled “Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement between the Agency and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”, demonstrating unified determination among IAEA Member States toward the denuclearization of North Korea.
It was also pointed out in the Director General’s statement at the end of last year that the discharge of warm water, which is consistent with ongoing commissioning of the Light Water Reactor at Yongbyon, is indicative that the reactor has reached criticality.
Japan is seriously concerned about the development of North Korea’s nuclear and missile activities including its ballistic missile launches. North Korea launched yet another ballistic missile on January 14th. This is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions, and we strongly urge North Korea not to conduct any further launches. Yet, unfortunately, there is a possibility of further provocations in the future, including another nuclear test. Concerted efforts by the international community are critical.
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, any other weapons of mass destruction, and ballistic missiles of all ranges 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 reiterates that North Korea cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear-weapons State in accordance with the NPT, as stated in UN Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006) and 1874 (2009), and in the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT.
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 the Secretariat to apply comprehensive safeguards in North Korea, as well as the Agency’s continued work to enhance its 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 plays an essential role in verifying North Korea’s nuclear programme, when 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.
The Director General’s report on the application of safeguards in North Korea at the end of August last year, underscored 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 relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Last September, the IAEA General Conference adopted, by consensus, the resolution entitled “Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement between the Agency and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”, demonstrating unified determination among IAEA Member States toward the denuclearization of North Korea.
It was also pointed out in the Director General’s statement at the end of last year that the discharge of warm water, which is consistent with ongoing commissioning of the Light Water Reactor at Yongbyon, is indicative that the reactor has reached criticality.
Japan is seriously concerned about the development of North Korea’s nuclear and missile activities including its ballistic missile launches. North Korea launched yet another ballistic missile on January 14th. This is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions, and we strongly urge North Korea not to conduct any further launches. Yet, unfortunately, there is a possibility of further provocations in the future, including another nuclear test. Concerted efforts by the international community are critical.
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, any other weapons of mass destruction, and ballistic missiles of all ranges 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 reiterates that North Korea cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear-weapons State in accordance with the NPT, as stated in UN Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006) and 1874 (2009), and in the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT.
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 the Secretariat to apply comprehensive safeguards in North Korea, as well as the Agency’s continued work to enhance its 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 plays an essential role in verifying North Korea’s nuclear programme, when 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.