Statement by Ambassador KAIFU Atsushi at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting starting on Monday, 2 March 2026 Item 5(b): Application of Safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
2026/3/4
Japan fully aligns itself with the Joint Trilateral Statement delivered by the United States and wishes to make the following remarks in its national capacity.
Japan remains deeply concerned by the continued expansion of North Korea’s nuclear program, as repeatedly reported by DG and reiterated by North Korea on the occasion of its 9th Party Congress.
This clearly violates multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and further destabilizes regional and international security. Japan calls on North Korea to take concrete steps toward the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of all nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction, and ballistic missiles of all ranges. The international community has been consistent and resolute that North Korea cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear-weapon State under the NPT.
Chair,
Japan reiterates that North Korea’s nuclear issue is not merely a regional concern but a global challenge that strikes at the very core of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime.
Regrettably, one designated member of the Board has stated that the issue of North Korea’s denuclearization is “closed” and has sought to exclude this item from the Board’s agenda. Moreover, another designated member had refrained from clearly insisting on North Korea’s denuclearization. Japan emphasizes that such actions directly affect the credibility and integrity of the IAEA and the broader non-proliferation regime. Tolerating the status quo or tacitly accepting the current situation leads to condoning, or even encouraging, North Korea’s nuclear development, including its reprocessing and enrichment activities.
Japan will continue to firmly support the Agency’s essential role and work closely with the United States, the Republic of Korea, and other like-minded Member States toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea.
Since at least one of the preceding speakers has referred to Japan’s security policy, Japan wishes to clarify the following points.
Japan observes the Three Non-Nuclear Principles as policy guidelines.
Japan, as a staunch supporter of the NPT, has been advocating for the implementation of all its provisions. This of course entails compliance with its own obligations under the NPT.
Japan has been adhering strictly to the basic policy of maintaining the exclusively national defense-oriented policy, not becoming a military power that poses a threat to other countries.
Since the end of World War II, Japan has been consistently contributing to international peace and prosperity, and this stance remains unchanged.
Thank you, Chair.
Japan remains deeply concerned by the continued expansion of North Korea’s nuclear program, as repeatedly reported by DG and reiterated by North Korea on the occasion of its 9th Party Congress.
This clearly violates multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and further destabilizes regional and international security. Japan calls on North Korea to take concrete steps toward the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of all nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction, and ballistic missiles of all ranges. The international community has been consistent and resolute that North Korea cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear-weapon State under the NPT.
Chair,
Japan reiterates that North Korea’s nuclear issue is not merely a regional concern but a global challenge that strikes at the very core of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime.
Regrettably, one designated member of the Board has stated that the issue of North Korea’s denuclearization is “closed” and has sought to exclude this item from the Board’s agenda. Moreover, another designated member had refrained from clearly insisting on North Korea’s denuclearization. Japan emphasizes that such actions directly affect the credibility and integrity of the IAEA and the broader non-proliferation regime. Tolerating the status quo or tacitly accepting the current situation leads to condoning, or even encouraging, North Korea’s nuclear development, including its reprocessing and enrichment activities.
Japan will continue to firmly support the Agency’s essential role and work closely with the United States, the Republic of Korea, and other like-minded Member States toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea.
Since at least one of the preceding speakers has referred to Japan’s security policy, Japan wishes to clarify the following points.
Japan observes the Three Non-Nuclear Principles as policy guidelines.
Japan, as a staunch supporter of the NPT, has been advocating for the implementation of all its provisions. This of course entails compliance with its own obligations under the NPT.
Japan has been adhering strictly to the basic policy of maintaining the exclusively national defense-oriented policy, not becoming a military power that poses a threat to other countries.
Since the end of World War II, Japan has been consistently contributing to international peace and prosperity, and this stance remains unchanged.
Thank you, Chair.