CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT DISCUSSES LATEST MISSILE LAUNCH BY THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA

The Conference on Disarmament this morning held a public plenary, in which most delegations condemned the 24 August submarine-launched missile test by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Cuba reiterated its call for a total prohibition of nuclear weapons, which would best be negotiated through multilateral discussions. Kazakhstan reminded of the anniversary of its 1991 decision to close the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. Japan stressed that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s 24 August missile test posed a grave threat to Japan’s national security, but also that of the region and the international community. Norway called upon the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to cooperate with the international community. The United States strongly condemned the 24 August ballistic missile launch by “North Korea”, and emphasized its commitment to the defence of its allies. Canada was concerned by recent reports which suggested that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was reprocessing plutonium and enriching uranium to further increase its stockpile of fissile materials. The Netherlands said that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should abandon nuclear weapons in a completely verifiable manner.

Romania called upon the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to refrain from actions that raised tensions in the region and to take steps to further international cooperation. Australia said that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s regime should immediately desist from provocative behaviour and focus on the welfare of its people. Sweden called upon the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to embrace its international obligations. Spain was ready to work with the international community on the effective implementation of the sanctions regime against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Finland urged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to engage with the international community in a meaningful manner. France stated that the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime and Daesh in Syria was another cause of serious concern. Germany opined that additional nuclear tests would push “North Korea” further into international isolation.

Italy strongly condemned the missile launch, which presented a threat to international peace and security. Belgium said that it was only by respecting its international obligations that “North Korea” could hope for the easing of the existing international sanctions regime. The United Kingdom stated that “North Korea” had demonstrated blatant disregard for international norms, as well as an increasing threat for international peace and security. Bulgaria called upon the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to abandon its ballistic missile programme and engage in a meaningful dialogue with the international community. Switzerland stated that all of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear installations should be placed under the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. Syria said that France, which had violently colonized a number of countries in the past, was in no position to call that other countries be held to account. Chile stated that international disputes had to be resolved through diplomacy and in line with keeping with international law. The Republic of Korea said that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should immediately stop its nuclear programmes in a verifiable and irreversible manner. China was concerned over the situation developing on the Korean Peninsula, and asked all parties to do more to contribute to denuclearization.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea stated that some countries had used the Conference to present its steps to defend its sovereignty as violations of the Security Council resolutions. Were those resolutions legitimate documents complying with the United Nations Charter? The United States was the one threatening to occupy Pyongyang, with the United States desperately staging military drills to launch an attack against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Incessant war drills were the real cause of instability on the Korean Peninsula. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea categorically rejected the Security Council’s press statement, which denied its right to exercise self-defence.

At the beginning of the meeting, Ambassador Kim In-Chul of the Republic of Korea, President of the Conference, informed that the first draft of the Conference’s 2016 annual report had been circulated.

The next formal plenary meeting will take place on Tuesday, 6 September at 10 a.m.

Statements

Ambassador KIM IN-CHUL of the Republic of Korea, President of the Conference, said that the members should have by now received the first draft report on the work of the Conference in 2016. The blank spaces related to the number of meetings in the draft would be completed by the Secretariat. One clerical error had been identified and would be corrected, informed the President, and one paragraph would be shifted, as requested by one delegation.

Cuba stated that the historic leader of the Cuban revolution Fidel Castro had referred to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, saying that no power should have the right to kill millions of people. There was no valid argument to justify the existence and use of nuclear weapons. Intentional or not, a “nuclear winter” and a disappearance of the human species could happen. Cuba had always called for a total prohibition of nuclear weapons and would support efforts for peace in the world. Unilateral declarations or voluntary promises by some States were not sufficient; multilateralism was the core principle of negotiations on disarmament. It was regrettable that no substantive work had been carried out in the Conference in more than 20 years; the failure of the ninth Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference was also regrettable. Specific and measurable actions with clear timelines ought to be defined. Cuba highlighted the importance of commemorating the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on 26 September. Cuba also reiterated that the political will of some States was the key to achieving progress in the Conference on Disarmament, which was capable of negotiating several issues simultaneously. The use of communication and information technologies by States had to be in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter. The Ambassador of Cuba informed that she would soon complete her term of duty in Geneva.

Kazakhstan recalled the resolution adopted at the sixty-fourth session of the General Assembly in 2009, which declared 29 August as the International Day against Nuclear Tests. The decision by Kazakhstan, in 1991, to close the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site had been made in the context of aiming for a nuclear-weapon-free world. During the site’s existence, more than 450 nuclear explosions had taken place in the area of approximately 18,000 square kilometres, exposing more than 1.5 million people to devastating levels of radiation. Kazakhstan had voluntarily renounced the world’s fourth biggest nuclear arsenal, which had been inherited as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union. An international conference on building a nuclear-weapon-free world had been held in Astana the previous day, on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk test site, and an exhibition would be held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

Japan found it unacceptable that on 24 August the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea had once again launched a ballistic missile from a submarine, which had flown a distance of around 500 km. It had posed a grave threat to Japan’s national security, but also that of the region and the international community. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was urged to comply with relevant Security Council resolutions and other international commitments without taking further provocative actions.

Norway fully shared the concerns expressed by Japan on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s missile launches, which undermined regional stability. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was urged to refrain from similar actions. Norway remained committed to a peaceful resolution of the situation, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was invited to cooperate with the international community.

United States strongly condemned the 24 August ballistic missile launch by “North Korea”. The United States’ commitment to the defence of its allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, remained iron-clad. The latest launch violated a number of United Nations resolutions, and posed threats to civil aviation and maritime commerce in the region. “North Korea’s” continuous development of missile programmes continued to threaten the United States and its allies in the region. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should be held accountable for its provocative actions.

Canada stated that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s submarine-launched ballistic missile demonstrated the growing threat posed by it, and not only to countries in the region. Canada unequivocally condemned those launches, which were the latest in a series of tests posing a grave threat to regional and international peace and security. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea had to comply with successive Security Council resolutions. Canada was also concerned by recent reports which suggested that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was reprocessing plutonium and enriching uranium to further increase its stockpile of fissile materials. Canada stood ready to work with the international community to find effective multilateral solutions to enhance security in the region.

Netherlands said that the 24 August launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea had been only the latest in a series of similar launches. That provocative behaviour increased tensions, presented a threat to regional security and further isolated the regime. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should abandon nuclear weapons in a completely verifiable manner; all of its installations should be submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was called upon to refrain from any actions of a provocative nature.

Romania stated that the Conference was a unique disarmament platform. Romania continued to firmly condemn any launch of ballistic missiles by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The Pyongyang authorities continued to bluntly violate international resolutions. Romania called upon the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to refrain from actions that further raised tensions in the region and instead take steps to further international cooperation.

Australia highlighted the gravity of recent developments on the Korean Peninsula. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s provocative and destabilizing behaviour threatened international peace and security. Australia strongly condemned such activities, which were clearly in breach of numerous Security Council resolutions. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea regime should immediately desist from such behaviour and focus on the welfare of its people.

Sweden noted that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s actions were in violation of a number of Security Council resolutions and constituted a threat to international peace and security. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was called upon to embrace its international obligations.

Spain expressed deep concern over the 24 August submarine-launched ballistic missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in a clear breach of Security Council resolutions. Spain was ready to work with the international community on the effective implementation of the sanctions regime so that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea would fully disband its nuclear programme.

Finland strongly condemned numerous Democratic People’s Republic of Korea launches of ballistic missiles, which represented serious violations of international norms. All missile launches by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ought to be stopped, and its missile programme had to be halted in an irreversible and verifiable manner. Finland urged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to engage with the international community in a meaningful manner.

France joined its voice to other delegations that had denounced the launching of ballistic missiles on 24 August. It was a threat to regional security and a breach of the non-proliferation regime. France urged “North Korea” to immediately comply with its international obligations and dismantle its nuclear arsenal. The use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime and Daesh in Syria was another cause of serious concern. Both the regime and Daesh were terrorizing the population of Syria, and an appropriate and swift international reaction was warranted.

Germany condemned the latest ballistic missile tests by “North Korea”. It was an additional provocation that the tests had violated Japanese territory, and thus presented an inherent danger of escalation. A strong and resolute reaction by the international community was needed. Statements by the Security Council and the trilateral meeting China-Japan-“South Korea” were welcomed in that regard. Additional nuclear tests would push “North Korea” further into international isolation.

Italy strongly condemned the launch which presented a threat to international peace and security. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was called upon to abandon its nuclear programme and turn to the Non-Proliferation Treaty safeguards and to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Belgium strongly condemned the launch of missiles by “North Korea”. The Security Council had explicitly prohibited “North Korea” from doing so. “North Korea” was asked to halt all provocations. It was only by respecting its international obligations that “North Korea” could hope for the easing of the existing international sanctions regime.

United Kingdom stated that “North Korea” had demonstrated blatant disregard for international norms, as well as an increasing threat for international peace and security. Security Council resolutions ought to be enforced forcefully.

Bulgaria joined others in condemning the missile launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in yet another provocation. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was called upon to abandon its ballistic missile programme and engage in a meaningful dialogue with the international community.

Switzerland echoed other voices condemning the missile tests, which were in clear violation of several Security Council resolutions. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should immediately and irreversibly cease its nuclear activities, which constituted a grave threat to international peace and security. All of its nuclear installations should be placed under the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

Syria said that there always needed to be a minimum level of diplomacy in statements in the Conference. Syria objected to the inappropriate words by the French regime, which referred to the Syrian Government as “the Assad regime”. Syria was a fully-fledged and recognized member of the United Nations. The Conference should not deal with the issues which had nothing to do with its work. France, which had violently colonized a number of countries in the past, was in no position to call that other countries be held to account. France had supported armed groups in Syria by providing them with small arms. Syria rejected all allegations of the use of chemical weapons.

Chile expressed concern over the recent launch of a ballistic missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and appealed to it to adhere to its commitments to non-proliferation. Such acts of provocation threatened regional security. International disputes had to be resolved through diplomacy and in line with keeping with international law.

Republic of Korea strongly condemned the continued provocative behaviour by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including the 24 August launch. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ignored repeated warnings by the international community. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should immediately stop its nuclear programmes in a verifiable and irreversible manner. If it continued to pursue those, that would only lead to further isolation and sanctions.

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea stated that some countries had used the Conference to present its steps to defend its sovereignty as violations of Security Council resolutions. Were those resolutions legitimate documents complying with the United Nations Charter? The United States was the one threatening to occupy Pyongyang, with the United States desperately staging military drills to launch an attack against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Incessant war drills were the real cause of instability on the Korean Peninsula. Certain countries were blindly siding with the United States, while modernizing their own weapon systems, including attack missiles. The same countries kept silent over ballistic missile launched by other States. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea categorically rejected the Security Council’s press statement, which denied its right to exercise self-defence.


China was also concerned over the situation developing on the Korean Peninsula, and asked all parties to do more to contribute to denuclearization. China was determined to safeguard its security interests in the region. China also called on all countries to refrain from using the term “regime” to describe other Governments. The Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan had been attacked by terrorists this morning. All countries should undertake unambiguous anti-terror efforts.

United States stressed that it was not a threat to “North Korea”, which should listen to the loud calls by the international community to respect its international obligations.

France clarified that its statement was in line with the statement by the French Foreign Minister, and rejected the historic lumping-together and allegations that France was supporting terrorist groups.

China proposed two minor edits to the draft annual report.

India requested that the final draft be circulated so that it could be conveyed to its capital.



For use of the information media; not an official record

DC16/037E