IAEA Board of Governors Meeting
Statement by H. E. Mr Richard Sadleir, Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Agenda item 4 (b): Application of Safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
24-26 November 2021
Australia once again expresses deep concern at the ongoing actions of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in support of its illicit nuclear weapons program. We remain determined, as does the entire international community, that the DPRK comply with UN Security Council resolutions requiring it to abandon its nuclear, other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.
Australia deplores the DPRK’s flagrant and ongoing defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. We note with deep concern the Director-General’s assessment that the DPRK’s nuclear program is proceeding unabated. And we condemn the DPRK’s numerous launches of nuclear capable missile systems, most recently its test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile on 19 October.
We reiterate that the continuation of these programs is unacceptable and entirely incompatible with the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament framework as established under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The IAEA will have a crucial verification role to play in the event the DPRK agrees to concrete actions towards denuclearisation. Australia commends the Agency for maintaining and enhancing its readiness to return to the DPRK within available resources.
Chair
The DPRK’s actions are a clear threat to global peace and security. Australia continues to call on the DPRK to cease provocations and make a sustained commitment to meaningful talks with the United States and the Republic of Korea. Dialogue is the only way to achieve permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Australia remains committed to strictly enforcing sanctions until the DPRK takes clear steps towards complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation. It is imperative that all countries implement UN Security Council sanctions against the DPRK.
Australia once again calls upon the DPRK to return to compliance with the NPT, return to IAEA Safeguards, ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and fully comply with its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions.
Thank you.