Board of Governors International Atomic Energy Agency - EU Statement on Agenda item 6: Application of safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Chair, 

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The following countries align themselves with this statement: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia, Norway, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino and Ukraine.

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 unlawful and destabilising actions that undermine regional and international peace and security. We urge the DPRK to comply with its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions and abandon all its nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, its ballistic missile programmes and its existing nuclear programmes, in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. 

The DPRK cannot and will not have the status of a nuclear weapon state under the NPT, or any other special status. The DPRK must return to compliance with the NPT and the IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, and bring into force an Additional Protocol.

We remain alarmed by statements of Russian officials considering the DPRK’s denuclearisation as a “closed issue”. This is inconsistent with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) obligations, as well as several DPRK-related UN Security Council resolutions that Russia itself voted for. It is particularly disappointing for a permanent member of the UN Security Council to treat this matter so lightly and expediently.

We also remain concerned about the ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ Treaty between the DPRK and Russia, which includes a reference to cooperation on nuclear energy. We call on Russia to abide by its obligations under the NPT and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. Any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missile-related technology from Russia to the DPRK would be a serious violation of these resolutions. 

We resolutely condemn Russia’s continuing illegal military cooperation with the DPRK and call on them to immediately cease these activities, which are a flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolutions. All UN Member States, especially members of the Security Council, must ensure the full implementation of UN Security Council resolutions. We stress that UN sanctions remain in place.

Chair,

The DPRK’s recurring statements that it intends to increase its nuclear arsenal is of deep concern. This is amplified by the Agency’s confirmation of the DPRK’s expanding nuclear activities and by repeated ballistic missile launches – including on at least three occasions in August alone - conducted in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. As reflected in the DG’s report, this includes the expanded operation of the uranium enrichment facility at Kangson and the construction and inauguration of an additional one at Yongbyon, as well as indications of expanded mining, milling and concentration activities at Pyongsan.

The continued operation of the UEF1, the 5MW(e) reactor, the Light Water Reactor, and of the Radiochemical Laboratory at Yongbyon, as well as the continued preparedness of the Punggye-Ri testing facilities to support a nuclear test remain deeply troubling. We are also concerned about the safety of DPRK’s Light Water Reactor, and we regret that the Agency continues to lack necessary information to make an assessment

We urge the DPRK to revert its provocative decision to expand its production of nuclear materials for military purposes, refrain from testing nuclear weapons, stop testing ballistic missiles, re-establish its pre-existing commitments to a moratorium on long-range ballistic missile testing and nuclear tests, and sign and ratify the CTBT without further delay or preconditions.

Chair,

The EU reiterates its call on the DPRK to return to diplomacy with all relevant parties to build a basis for sustainable peace and security and to take steps aimed at pursuing the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. This includes the IAEA’s return to the DPRK. The EU stands ready to support any meaningful diplomatic efforts.

We express our appreciation for the IAEA’s monitoring of the DPRK’s nuclear activities, and its readiness to engage with the DPRK, including on the issue of nuclear safety. 

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

Thank you, Chair.