Joint Trilateral Statement by Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States at the 70th Session of the IAEA General Conference Item 18: Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement between the Agency and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (GC(70)/15)
2026/9/17
Mr. President,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Republic of Korea, the United States of America, and my own country, Japan. Our three countries are united in our steadfast commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
As clearly documented in the Director General’s latest report, North Korea continues to expand its unlawful nuclear program. The report notes indications of continued operation of the 5MW(e) (five-megawatt electric) reactor and the Light Water Reactor at Yongbyon, as well as indications of reprocessing activity at the Radiochemical Laboratory. It also highlights ongoing operations and continued expansion of North Korea’s uranium enrichment complexes. The report further documents efforts toward the development of a nuclear-powered submarine.
North Korea has been continuing to advance its nuclear and missile development. North Korea’s nuclear activities and ballistic missile programs violate multiple UNSC resolutions and seriously undermine the global non-proliferation regime. We therefore strongly urge North Korea to fully comply with all its obligations under relevant UNSC resolutions, take concrete steps to completely abandon all its nuclear weapons, as well as existing nuclear and ballistic missiles programs, and return at an early date to, and fully comply with, the NPT and IAEA safeguards. We call on all Member States to fully implement relevant UNSC resolutions.
Furthermore, we reiterate that all Member States must remain strongly committed to the denuclearization of North Korea, and any attempt to undermine this shared goal is unacceptable. Tolerating the status quo or tacitly accepting the current situation leads to condoning, or even encouraging, North Korea’s unlawful nuclear program.
Mr. President,
Our three countries remain firmly committed to responding to the nuclear threat posed by North Korea, while also remaining open to dialogue with North Korea. We urge North Korea to cease all provocations and destabilizing actions, including any further nuclear tests or ballistic missile launches, and return to dialogue at an early date, through which we can denuclearize and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.
We would like to express our appreciation to the Director General and the Secretariat for their continued efforts to monitor developments with respect to the North Korea’s nuclear program and for the latest report. We strongly support the IAEA’s continued work to maintain and enhance readiness to carry out monitoring and verification activities in North Korea.
Mr. President,
We would like to underline the importance of adopting this resolution by consensus. We would also like to thank the members of the DPRK Core Group, in particular the Canadian delegation for its leadership throughout the drafting process.
Last but not least, we also commend you, Mr. President, for leading this 70th Session of the General Conference to a successful conclusion.
Thank you.
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Republic of Korea, the United States of America, and my own country, Japan. Our three countries are united in our steadfast commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
As clearly documented in the Director General’s latest report, North Korea continues to expand its unlawful nuclear program. The report notes indications of continued operation of the 5MW(e) (five-megawatt electric) reactor and the Light Water Reactor at Yongbyon, as well as indications of reprocessing activity at the Radiochemical Laboratory. It also highlights ongoing operations and continued expansion of North Korea’s uranium enrichment complexes. The report further documents efforts toward the development of a nuclear-powered submarine.
North Korea has been continuing to advance its nuclear and missile development. North Korea’s nuclear activities and ballistic missile programs violate multiple UNSC resolutions and seriously undermine the global non-proliferation regime. We therefore strongly urge North Korea to fully comply with all its obligations under relevant UNSC resolutions, take concrete steps to completely abandon all its nuclear weapons, as well as existing nuclear and ballistic missiles programs, and return at an early date to, and fully comply with, the NPT and IAEA safeguards. We call on all Member States to fully implement relevant UNSC resolutions.
Furthermore, we reiterate that all Member States must remain strongly committed to the denuclearization of North Korea, and any attempt to undermine this shared goal is unacceptable. Tolerating the status quo or tacitly accepting the current situation leads to condoning, or even encouraging, North Korea’s unlawful nuclear program.
Mr. President,
Our three countries remain firmly committed to responding to the nuclear threat posed by North Korea, while also remaining open to dialogue with North Korea. We urge North Korea to cease all provocations and destabilizing actions, including any further nuclear tests or ballistic missile launches, and return to dialogue at an early date, through which we can denuclearize and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.
We would like to express our appreciation to the Director General and the Secretariat for their continued efforts to monitor developments with respect to the North Korea’s nuclear program and for the latest report. We strongly support the IAEA’s continued work to maintain and enhance readiness to carry out monitoring and verification activities in North Korea.
Mr. President,
We would like to underline the importance of adopting this resolution by consensus. We would also like to thank the members of the DPRK Core Group, in particular the Canadian delegation for its leadership throughout the drafting process.
Last but not least, we also commend you, Mr. President, for leading this 70th Session of the General Conference to a successful conclusion.
Thank you.