IAEA6月理事会（議題8(c): 北朝鮮の核問題）ステートメント（桑原敦公使）（英語）
令和4年6月8日
Thank you, Mr. Chair,
The Director General’s report at the end of August last year on the application of safeguards in North Korea underscores that North Korea’s nuclear activities continue to be a cause for serious concern. The report also stresses that the continuation of North Korea’s nuclear programme is a clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and is deeply regrettable. This assessment has been repeated in the DG’s Introductory Statement to the subsequent Board meetings. In his Introductory Statement to the current Board meeting, the Director General stated that, at the Nuclear Test Site at Punggye-ri, the Agency observed indications that one of the adits had been reopened, possibly in preparation for a nuclear test.
North Korea’s continued development of nuclear and missile capabilities is a deep concern for Japan, the region and the international community.
North Korea has been launching ballistic missiles with an extremely high frequency and in new ways, especially since the beginning of this year. On 24 March, North Korea launched an ICBM-class ballistic missile and it fell within Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), just 150 km from the Japanese soil. And North Korea launched another ICBM-class ballistic missile on 25 May. Japan and our partners have repeatedly denounced its actions. In this context, we deeply regret that, on 26 May, the UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution aimed at condemning the series of recent ballistic missile launches by North Korea and strengthening measures against it, despite support from 13 members. Last weekend, yet again, North Korea launched ballistic missiles, this time multiple launches in a single day, which was the largest number in over a decade.
North Korea’s steady improvement in its missile technology, as well as its nuclear capability, poses a serious challenge to the international non-proliferation regime.
Mr. Chair,
Last September at the General Conference, the resolution entitled “Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement between the Agency and the DPRK” was adopted by consensus, which demonstrated unified determination among IAEA Member States toward the denuclearization of North Korea.
Japan strongly urges North Korea to fully comply with all of its obligations under relevant UN Security Council 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 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 for all states to fully implement all relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and calls upon all states to continue working together to this end.
Mr. Chair,
Japan commends the impartial efforts of Director General Grossi and the Secretariat in carrying out its mandate in applying comprehensive safeguards in North Korea, and its work to enhance the Agency’s ability and readiness to verify North Korea’s nuclear programme. We deem it crucial that the Agency’s expertise, knowledge and experience are maintained and utilized, 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, Mr. Chair.
The Director General’s report at the end of August last year on the application of safeguards in North Korea underscores that North Korea’s nuclear activities continue to be a cause for serious concern. The report also stresses that the continuation of North Korea’s nuclear programme is a clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and is deeply regrettable. This assessment has been repeated in the DG’s Introductory Statement to the subsequent Board meetings. In his Introductory Statement to the current Board meeting, the Director General stated that, at the Nuclear Test Site at Punggye-ri, the Agency observed indications that one of the adits had been reopened, possibly in preparation for a nuclear test.
North Korea’s continued development of nuclear and missile capabilities is a deep concern for Japan, the region and the international community.
North Korea has been launching ballistic missiles with an extremely high frequency and in new ways, especially since the beginning of this year. On 24 March, North Korea launched an ICBM-class ballistic missile and it fell within Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), just 150 km from the Japanese soil. And North Korea launched another ICBM-class ballistic missile on 25 May. Japan and our partners have repeatedly denounced its actions. In this context, we deeply regret that, on 26 May, the UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution aimed at condemning the series of recent ballistic missile launches by North Korea and strengthening measures against it, despite support from 13 members. Last weekend, yet again, North Korea launched ballistic missiles, this time multiple launches in a single day, which was the largest number in over a decade.
North Korea’s steady improvement in its missile technology, as well as its nuclear capability, poses a serious challenge to the international non-proliferation regime.
Mr. Chair,
Last September at the General Conference, the resolution entitled “Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement between the Agency and the DPRK” was adopted by consensus, which demonstrated unified determination among IAEA Member States toward the denuclearization of North Korea.
Japan strongly urges North Korea to fully comply with all of its obligations under relevant UN Security Council 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 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 for all states to fully implement all relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and calls upon all states to continue working together to this end.
Mr. Chair,
Japan commends the impartial efforts of Director General Grossi and the Secretariat in carrying out its mandate in applying comprehensive safeguards in North Korea, and its work to enhance the Agency’s ability and readiness to verify North Korea’s nuclear programme. We deem it crucial that the Agency’s expertise, knowledge and experience are maintained and utilized, 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, Mr. Chair.