IAEA Board of Governors Meeting
Statement by HE Dr Brendon Hammer, Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Agenda Item 4(c) (DPRK): Nuclear Verification: Application of Safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
22 November 2018
Chair,
Australia remains committed to the shared goal of complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea.
We welcome ongoing dialogue between the DPRK, South Korea and the United States.
And we note North Korea’s commitment to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile testing, and allow international inspections of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site and the Tongchang-ri missile site.
We see these as positive developments.
But at the same time we remain committed to keeping up strong pressure on the DPRK until it demonstrates that it has taken clear and concrete steps towards complying with all of those UN Security Council Resolutions that call upon it to abandon its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs.
Chair,
It is widely acknowledged that the IAEA would play a crucial role in verifying any denuclearisation of the DPRK.
Accordingly, we welcome the Agency’s establishment of a DPRK team, and we commend the Agency for its work to prepare for, and maintain, a high level of readiness to return to the DPRK.
Australia itself stands ready to contribute – within our means – to any international verification effort.
Chair,
Australia once again urges the DPRK to return to full compliance with the NPT, permit a return to IAEA safeguards inspections at an early date, and to abandon its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.
Thank you.