IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda item 6(a): Application of safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
6 March 2024
Statement by H.E Ambassador Ian Biggs, Governor and Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Chair
Australia continues to condemn in the strongest terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s ongoing pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems. The DPRK’s continued advancement of its illegal nuclear weapons program poses a grave threat to global stability and a serious challenge to international non-proliferation efforts. We are also concerned by recent observations consistent with ongoing commissioning of the Light Water Reactor at Yongbyon, and the Director General’s assessment last December that the reactor appears to have reached criticality.
Australia strongly condemns North Korea’s repeated and now frequent ballistic missile launches and satellite launches using ballistic missile technology, which violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions requiring it to abandon its nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.
Chair
We condemn in the strongest possible terms the DPRK’s provision and Russia’s procurement of DPRK ballistic missiles to support Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. Any transfer of ballistic missiles, as well as any other weapons and related material to and from the DPRK, directly violates UN Security Council resolutions and undermines the global non-proliferation regime.
These irresponsible actions must stop. This Board must be unified in its demand that all countries, including the DPRK, comply with all UN Security Council resolutions. Australia strictly enforces all UN Security Council resolutions against North Korea and encourages all countries to do likewise.
Australia remains deeply concerned by indications of the DPRK’s continued activities to prepare for a seventh nuclear test. 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.
Chair
We urge the DPRK to cease provocations, reverse course, and return to full compliance with IAEA safeguards and the NPT as a non-nuclear-weapon state, allowing the return of IAEA inspectors. We also urge DPRK to make a sustained commitment to diplomacy and to return to meaningful dialogue, 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 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
Finally, Chair
There is no scope within the international safeguards regime to accept the continued misuse of previously safeguarded facilities for the production of weapons-usable nuclear material. Australia thanks the Agency for maintaining its preparedness to play an essential role in verifying the DPRK’s nuclear program and commends its activities to enhance and maintain this capability.
Thank you, Chair.