IAEA Board of Governors Meeting
Statement by H.E. Mr Richard Sadleir, Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Agenda Item 6(c): Application of safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
17 June 2020
Chair,
As Australia has made clear on many occasions, the DPRK’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs present an unacceptable challenge to international nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
Australia continues to be concerned by the DPRK’s repeated shorter range ballistic missile launches, most recently in March, and by the DPRK’s announcement in December last year that it no longer feels bound by its moratorium on nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile launches.
We urge the DPRK to return to full compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
In addition, the signing and ratification by the DPRK of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty would demonstrate its good faith and preparedness to return to dialogue.
Chair,
Two years ago, the DPRK committed to work towards complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. Australia calls on the DPRK to honour that commitment by making a sustained commitment to talks with the United States of America and the Republic of Korea. Only dialogue will achieve permanent peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Chair,
Australia remains steadfastly committed to strictly enforcing UN Security Council resolutions against the DPRK until it takes clear steps towards complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation.
With the UN Panel of Experts on the DPRK continuing to identify widespread evasion of sanctions, it is imperative that all countries fully and effectively implement these resolutions. Even if one country does not take all steps to implement sanctions, their effectiveness is undermined.
Chair,
The IAEA will have a crucial role to play in verifying any steps that the DPRK agrees to undertake towards complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation.
Australia commends the Agency for its work to develop and maintain a high level of readiness to return to the DPRK. We stand ready to provide our support to the Agency in this regard.
Thank you.