EU Statement at IAEA Board of Governors on Application of safeguards in the Democratic People s Republic of Korea, as delivered on 11 September 2024

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EU Statement at IAEA Board of Governors on Application of safeguards in the Democratic People s Republic of Korea, as delivered on 11 September 2024

11.09.2024 Press and information team of the Delegation to UN and OSCE in Vienna

Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina[1]and Georgia, the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as San Marino, align themselves with this statement.

The EU thanks the Director General and the Secretariat for the latest report on the application of safeguards in the DPRK.

The EU condemns the DPRK's continued development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. We urge the DPRK to comply with its obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including to abandon nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missile programmes, and existing nuclear programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. The DPRK must refrain from provocative actions that could increase regional and global tensions, including ballistic missile launches and satellite launches using ballistic missile technology.

We are seriously concerned regarding DPRK statements that the country intends to exponentially increase its nuclear arsenal. Our concern is amplified by the IAEA's indications regarding the commissioning of the Light Water Reactor, the continued preparedness of the Punggye-Ri testing facilities to support a nuclear test, and the continued operation of the reported centrifuge enrichment facility and 5MW(e) reactor. The DPRK expanded and renovated the Kangson complex, which shares infrastructure characteristics with the reported centrifuge enrichment facility at Yongbyon.

We urge the DPRK to return to full compliance with its obligations under the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon State and the IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and to bring into force an Additional Protocol to that Agreement. The DPRK cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear weapon state in accordance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Its continuous violations of UN Security Council resolutions will not be accepted.

The EU strongly condemns the DPRK's repeated ballistic missile launches and calls on it to cease actions that undermine international peace and security. We urge the DPRK to refrain from testing nuclear weapons, reaffirm the moratorium on long-range ballistic missile testing and nuclear tests and promptly sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, without further delay or preconditions.

The EU calls on all UN Member States to condemn DPRK actions that threaten international peace and security, and violate the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime. It is essential to prevent the DPRK from acquiring finances/financing, materials, and knowledge benefiting its illegal weapons programmes. The international community, especially Members of the UN Security Council, needs to remain united and vigilant in ensuring the full implementation of UN Security Council resolutions. Russia's veto on the renewal of the mandate of the UN 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee Panel of Experts, has deprived UN Member States of an essential source of information on the implementation of sanctions. It also seeks to undermine the disarmament and non-proliferation regime.

We condemn in the strongest possible terms arms transfers, in particular of ballistic missiles, and military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, in flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolutions. We call on the DPRK and Russia to abide by relevant UN Security Council resolutions and to immediately cease these activities. We are seriously concerned about the Russia-DPRK 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' Treaty signed during President Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June 2024, which includes a reference to cooperation on "peaceful" nuclear energy. Such cooperation would be another open violation of UN Security Council Resolutions.

The EU also urges the DPRK to engage in meaningful dialogue with all relevant parties to build a basis for sustainable peace and security and to take steps aimed at pursuing the complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. This includes the Agency's return to the DPRK. The EU stands ready to support any meaningful diplomatic process to this end.

Chair,

We express our support for the IAEA's valuable commitment and work to monitor the DPRK's nuclear activities and readiness to engage, including on the issue of nuclear safety. Moreover, any verification effort shall benefit from technical assistance by the IAEA and, as appropriate, the CTBTO.

The EU requests the Director General to keep the Board of Governors informed of any developments and to maintain this item on the agenda of its future meetings.

Thank you, Chair.

[1]North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.