Chair,

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

The European Union would like to thank the Director General for his report to the Board on the “Application of Safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)”, as contained in document GOV/2022/40. The report underlines the longstanding and continuing failure of the DPRK to abide by its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The EU, as a strong supporter of the international nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime, urges all parties to maintain a high level of engagement on this issue.

We share the Director General’s serious concern about recent indications pointing to the reopening of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, the expansion of the reported centrifuge enrichment facility and the continued operation of the 5MW(e) reactor at Yongbyon, as well as activity at other nuclear related facilities.

The continuation of the nuclear programme, alongside the unprecedented number of unlawful missile launches this year, including the testing of new and intercontinental ballistic missile technology, are flagrant violations of multiple UN Security Council resolutions and a serious threat to international and regional peace and security that warrant an adequate response by the UN Security Council. We regret that the Security Council was unable to show unity and adopt a resolution in May 2022.The EU stands ready to support initiatives aimed at garnering unity of the international community.

The EU strongly underlines that the actions taken by the DPRK cannot confer the status of a nuclear weapon State in accordance with the NPT or any special status whatsoever.

The EU urges the DPRK:

• to refrain from testing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, and to reintroduce a full moratorium on all types of missile launches;
• to refrain from other forms of destabilising action and engage in meaningful dialogue with all relevant parties;
• to immediately engage in concrete action to comply with its obligation to abandon its nuclear weapons, any other weapons of mass destruction, its ballistic missiles and dismantle all related programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner;
• 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; and
• to maintain its moratorium on nuclear tests and to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), without delay and without preconditions.

It is of utmost importance that the international community remains united and vigilant in addressing the DPRK nuclear and missile proliferation threat. The EU urges all UN Member States to make clear their determination to uphold obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions. It is essential that sanctions are implemented in full to block the flow of finance, components or knowledge that could support the DPRK’s unlawful weapons programme.

Chair,

The EU is ready to support a new and meaningful diplomatic process. We urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to resume discussions with all relevant parties to reach an agreement that would facilitate the Agency’s return to the DPRK.

We reiterate our appreciation for the continued efforts of the IAEA's DPRK Team to monitor the nuclear situation in that country. Any verification efforts would benefit from technical assistance by the IAEA and, as appropriate, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), and would need to take due account of non-proliferation requirements.

The IAEA must remain seized of the matter in accordance with the resolutions of the IAEA General Conference. The EU requests the Director General to keep the Board of Governors informed of this issue and to maintain this item on the agenda of its future meetings.

Thank you, Chair.

§ Candidate Country

* Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, as well as potential Candidate Country Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

+ Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are members of the EFTA and of the European Economic Area.