IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda item 6d: Application of safeguards in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
11 June 2025
Statement by H.E Ambassador Ian Biggs, Governor and Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Australia fully aligns itself with the Joint Statement of the DPRK Core Group. In addition, I would like to make some brief remarks in my national capacity.
Australia condemns in the strongest terms DPRK’s unlawful development of nuclear as well as other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. We are deeply troubled by the Director General’s updates in relation to the DPRK’s nuclear activities, including indications of a further expansion of undeclared fissile material production as outlined in the Core Group’s Joint Statement.
Chair
The Board has a responsibility to call out behaviour that weakens, or contravenes, the global non-proliferation regime. This is especially important in the context of the severe lack of transparency surrounding the DPRK’s nuclear activities. Taking into account the DPRK’s unilateral renunciation of its international obligations, and its subsequent and ongoing misuse of previously safeguarded as well as undeclared facilities in pursuit of its illicit nuclear program, it is imperative that the Board maintains close attention on this matter.
Any suggestion to the contrary risks sending a damaging message about the credibility of this Board. The DPRK’s illegal activities must not be normalised. It cannot, and will never have, the status of a nuclear ‑weapon State under the NPT.
Chair
We stress that providing any military or economic support toward the DPRK’s illegal weapons programs constitutes a breach of relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Any such act would also undermine international security and the integrity of the global non-proliferation regime.
We call on all States to comply with their obligations to implement international law, including UN Security Council resolutions in relation to the DPRK.
Chair
We appreciate the Agency’s critical contributions to international efforts to address the DPRK’s behaviour, through its objective monitoring and analysis of DPRK nuclear activities. We urge the DPRK to return to full compliance with its NPT safeguards obligations, cooperate with the Agency as a non-nuclear-weapon State and engage in meaningful dialogue and diplomacy, which provide the only path to achieving enduring peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Thank you.