General Conference International Atomic Energy Agency - EU Statement on Agenda item 18: Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement between the Agency and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Chair, 

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

The EU thanks Canada for introducing the draft resolution and we commend the DPRK Core Group for their sustained efforts. 

The EU has repeatedly condemned the DPRK's continuation and further development of its nuclear programme in flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. The DPRK's unlawful and destabilising actions undermine regional and international peace and security as well as the global non-proliferation regime, that this Conference exists to defend.

In light of these longstanding concerns, the Conference must continue to urge the DPRK to comply fully with its international obligations and to abandon in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, all nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, its ballistic missile programmes and its existing nuclear programmes. The DPRK cannot and will not have the status of a nuclear weapon state under the NPT, or any other special status. 

We are deeply concerned by and strongly reject statements of Russian officials suggesting that the DPRK’s denuclearisation is a “closed issue”. It is particularly disappointing that a permanent member of the UN Security Council, continues to treat the DPRK’s violations so lightly and expediently. 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. 

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 nuclear safety. The EU stands ready to support any such efforts.

The EU urges the DPRK to engage in meaningful discussions 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. 

The EU supports the resolution and encourages all Member States to vote in its favour, sending a clear and united signal that any actions undermining the non-proliferation regime will not go unanswered. 

Thank you, Chair