IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda item 8(a): Application of safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
11 September 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 report and introductory statement. We reiterate our concern about the activities observed by the Agency around the commissioning of the Light Water Reactor at Yongbyon, and about other activities indicative of further development of the DPRK’s nuclear program. The escalation in DPRK's rhetoric in recent days only reinforces the importance of this Board remaining seized of the issue.
Australia continues to condemn in the strongest terms the DPRK’s ongoing pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems. As the Director General’s report rightly states, 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.
Any transfer of ballistic missiles, and of any other weapons and related material to or from the DPRK, constitutes a direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions. This Board must be unified in its demand that all countries act responsibly in full compliance with their international obligations, and refrain from assisting the DPRK in any way in its continued advancement of its illegal nuclear weapons program.
In this regard, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the transfer of weapons from the DPRK to Russia. We share the concern that deepening DPRK-Russia cooperation is 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.
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.
Finally, Chair
We hope that, in the context of the DPRK’s continued illicit actions, the General Conference will once again adopt a consensus resolution to send a firm, united message to the DPRK that the international community will continue to call out its violations and escalatory acts. Australia would welcome the support of all Member States in adopting this resolution at the upcoming General Conference.
Thank you, Chair.