IAEA Board of Governors Meeting
Statement by H. E. Mr Richard Sadleir, Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Agenda item 6(d): Application of Safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
9 June 2021
Australia is committed to the denuclearisation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and remains deeply concerned by its ongoing commitment to developing weapons of mass destruction. The international community demands 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.
We reiterate that the continuation of these programs poses an unacceptable challenge to the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament framework as established under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
We note of course that the IAEA would have a crucial verification role to play should the DPRK finally agree to concrete actions and timeframes towards denuclearisation. Australia commends the Agency for the work it continues to undertake to intensify its readiness to return to the DPRK within available resources.
The DPRK’s launch of ballistic missiles on 25 March, its unveiling of new ballistic missile systems at recent military parades, and Kim Jong Un’s affirmation at the 8th Party Congress in January of the regime’s ongoing commitment to developing nuclear weapons, represent a clear threat to global peace and security. Dialogue is the only way to achieve permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, and we continue to call on the DPRK to avoid provocations that risk instability and make a sustained commitment to talks with each of the United States and the Republic of Korea.
Sanctions cannot be effective unless they are universally enforced. It is imperative that all countries implement UN Security Council sanctions against the DPRK. Australia remains committed to implementing sanctions against the DPRK until it takes clear step towards complying with relevant UNSC resolutions and will continue to work alongside our partners to this end.
Australia once again urges the DPRK to return to compliance with the NPT, return to IAEA Safeguards at an early date, and implement its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions.