EU Statement UN Security Council: Briefing on Non proliferation/DPRK arms transfers

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia^*, Montenegro^*, Albania^*, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina^* and Georgia, as well as Andorra, Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

Mr. President,

First, let me start by expression our condemnation of the latest DPRK ballistic missile launch earlier this week.

Turning to today's meeting, I would like to thank the briefers for their interventions, both of which were very indeed useful.

Today's meeting is a timely opportunity to discuss the DPRK's illegal and destabilising behaviour as demonstrated through its continued pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile programs, as well as its deepening military cooperation with Russia and particularly arms transfers for use in Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. A war, which itself is a manifest violation of international law, including the UN Charter. These arms transfers openly violate UNSC resolutions and endanger peace and security in Europe and on the Korean Peninsula.

The urgency is highlighted by the 19 June summit in Pyongyang, where Russia and the DPRK concluded an agreement aimed at deepening cooperation, including in the military domain. We note that President Putin said that Russia would not rule out developing military-technical cooperation with the DPRK. This indicates that the two parties are inclined to further violate UNSC resolutions.

Russia is trampling on the UN Charter while pretending as recently at the BRICS meeting of foreign ministers that the UN Charter should be at the core of international relations. A rather selective and insincere approach to international relations.

The EU and its Member States stress that DPRK's transfers of arms and related equipment are a clear breach of multiple UNSC resolutions, which unequivocally prohibit any arms exports or imports involving the DPRK. Multiple independent entities have confirmed beyond all reasonable doubt that the DPRK has provided ballistic missiles, which Russia has used against Ukraine on several occasions. Such intentional attacks, including against civilians and civilian infrastructure, add to the growing evidence of war crimes, as reported by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.

Such DPRK-Russia arms transfers support Russia's war of aggression, increase the suffering of the Ukrainian people, and fundamentally undermine the global non-proliferation regime. They show that Russia continues to gear up for a prolongation of the war and clearly show that Russia's proclamations about a ceasefire in Ukraine and negotiations are insincere.

We reiterate our strong call on the DPRK and on Russia to abide by all UNSC resolutions and to immediately cease all activities that violate them. Russia should be held to account for these violations which are undermining the work of the UN Security Council as well as multilateralism as a way to maintain international peace and security.

Mr. President,

Recently, Russia vetoed the extension of the 1718 Committee Panel of Experts. The EU strongly condemned this deeply irresponsible action as an effort to conceal illegal arms transfers between DPRK and Russia.

The UN sanctions regime itself remains in place as will the 1718 Committee responsible for its implementation. This remains more important than ever. The objective of the sanctions is to curb the DPRK's illegal nuclear and ballistic missiles programmes, which are continuing in direct violation of numerous UNSC resolutions. Sanctions also serve as an important tool to incentivise the DPRK to take up offers of dialogue by the main parties, in view of finding a diplomatic solution leading to peace and security on the Korean peninsula.

The EU will continue to do its part in working toward this outcome, in close cooperation with the international community, and we urge others to do the same.

Thank you.

*North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.