IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda item 5(b): Application of safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
20 November 2024
Statement by H.E Ambassador Ian Biggs, Governor and Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Chair
Australia thanks the Director General for his updates on the nuclear activities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in his introductory statement.
Firstly, we welcome the adoption by consensus of resolution on Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement between the Agency and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the General Conference. Unity on this vital issue has never been more important.
Unfortunately, DPRK’s actions since the General Conference only reinforce the vital role of the IAEA and the need for concerted international action to address DPRK’s illegal pursuit of weapons of mass destruction.
Australia was deeply troubled by the emergence in mid-September of images of President Kim Jong Un visiting a uranium enrichment facility, which presumably is not a facility that has been declared to the IAEA, demonstrating the DPRK’s blatant disregard for the international non-proliferation regime.
On 31 October and 5 November, DPRK conducted further illegal ballistic missile tests. The tests were reckless and unacceptable acts that threatens the security of our neighbours and partners and undermines the stability of the Indo-Pacific.
We reiterate our concern about the activities observed by the Agency around the operational status of the 5MWe reactor and the Light Water Reactor at Yongbyon, and about other activities indicative of further development of the DPRK’s nuclear program.
Australia continues to condemn in the strongest terms the DPRK’s ongoing pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems. The DPRK’s continued advancement of its illegal nuclear weapons program is a clear violation of its obligations under multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
Australia strictly enforces all UN Security Council resolutions in response to the DPRK’s violations. We encourage all countries to likewise abide by their UN Security Council obligations.
We condemn in the strongest possible terms the increasing military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, including the DPRK’s export and Russia’s unlawful procurement of DPRK ballistic missiles, which constitutes a further breach of UN Security Council resolutions. We are deeply concerned about the potential for any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missile-related technology from Russia to the DPRK -providing technical and military insights to the DPRK, with serious security implications.
Chair
Australia remains deeply concerned by indications of the DPRK’s continued preparedness to conduct a seventh nuclear test, including the maintenance of the Punggye-ri site. Australia once again calls on the DPRK to refrain from conducting further nuclear explosive tests, and to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty without further delay.
We urge the DPRK to cease provocations and comply with its obligations under multiple UN Security Council resolutions by abandoning its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner. We call on the DPRK to engage constructively in diplomacy – the only path to an enduring peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Australia utterly rejects the DPRK’s outrageous assertion that it is a ‘responsible nuclear-weapons state’ and any attempts by DPRK or others to normalise its illegal pursuit of nuclear weapons. On 8 November, Australia joined Ukraine, NATO and Indo-Pacific (IP4) partners in calling out Russia’s statement on 26 September asserting that the denuclearisation of the DPRK is “off the table”, which is unacceptable and directly contradicts relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The DPRK cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear-weapon state under the NPT. We call on the DPRK to return to full compliance with IAEA safeguards and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non-nuclear-weapon state, allowing the return of IAEA inspectors.
Chair
There is no scope within the international safeguards regime to accept the continued misuse of previously safeguarded facilities for the production of nuclear material for weapons use. Australia commends the Agency for its continued vigilance, and for maintaining its enhanced readiness to play an essential role in verifying the DPRK’s nuclear program.
Thank you, Chair.