66th Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference
National statement on the DPRK resolution
H.E Ambassador Richard Sadleir, Governor and Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
30 September 2022
Thank you President.
We commend Canada for their tireless work and leadership in steering the DPRK Core Group in negotiating this year’s resolution on Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement between the Agency and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We also thank all member states who have co-sponsored this important resolution.
President,
The Director General’s latest report again highlighted the Agency’s serious concern at the DPRK’s continuing nuclear activities. We share these concerns and the assessment by the Director General that these development are “deeply troubling”.
The text of the resolution represents the Core Group’s best efforts to ensure this Conference adopts a consensus text reflecting these factual updates, to send a firm, united message to the DPRK that its actions will never be accepted or normalised, and that the international community will continue to call out its violations and escalatory acts.
President,
In order to ensure a consensus resolution could be adopted by this Conference, as has been the case in recent years, the Core Group took an open and transparent approach to text negotiations. We engaged early with interested regional group delegations and reflected the feedback received in the resolution as adopted.
We welcome the support of all Member States in adopting this resolution as tabled by Canada on behalf of the co-sponsors.
Thank you.