Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Continues Nuclear Weapons Programme, Violating Resolutions, Assistant Secretary-General Warns Security Council
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is intent on continuing to pursue its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions, a senior United Nations official told the 15-member organ today on the heels of Pyongyang’s recent rocket launch.
Khaled Khiari, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East and Asia and the Pacific, briefed the Council following the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s 21 November launch of “Chollima-1”, a rocket loaded with the “Malligyong-1” reconnaissance satellite, from the country’s Sohae Satellite Launching Station.
“While sovereign States have the right to benefit from peaceful space activities, Security Council resolutions expressly prohibit the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] from conducting any launches using ballistic missile technology,” he said.
Furthermore, he reiterated condemnations of the Secretary-General, who on 21 November strongly deplored the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s launch of yet another military satellite using ballistic missile technology. Pyongyang must comply with relevant Security Council resolutions, he stressed.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continues to implement its five-year military plan unveiled in January 2021, he went on to note. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in the country grows increasingly critical. The United Nations remains deeply concerned about the aid needs there and urges Pyongyang to allow UN agencies to enter the country to assess the situation on the ground.
In the ensuing discussion among the Member States, several delegations, echoed the senior UN official, also expressing deep worry over the humanitarian situation taking place in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The representative of the United States said that the Council must unite in encouraging “Pyongyang to focus less on stocking an arsenal and more on stocking the pantries of the DPRK people who suffer from severe economic hardship and malnutrition”. Echoing the concerns of several other Council members, she noted with alarm that two of the organ’s permanent members are unwilling to condemn Pyongyang’s actions. “How many more times must we gather for briefings like this before the Russian Federation and China join us in demanding the DPRK abandon its weapons-of-mass-destruction and ballistic missile programmes,” she asked.
Pyongyang’s launches clearly threaten global peace and security, the United Kingdom’s delegate said. “Moreover, these launches follow increased engagement between Russia and the DPRK, including Kim Jong-Un’s visit to Vostochny Cosmodrome in September where he met President Putin,” she added, also noting: “When asked by a reporter whether Russia would help North Korea launch its own satellites and rockets, President [Vladimir V.] Putin responded: ‘That’s exactly why we came here — the leader of North Korea shows great interest in space’.”
The representative of the Russian Federation, noting several delegations’ accusations against military-technical cooperation between her country and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as “unfounded”, called on fellow Council members to stop dangerous actions that threaten to escalate the situation into a large-scale conflict. The United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea continue joint military exercises in the region, she said, emphasizing that Pyongyang cannot be expected to not respond.
China’s representative, Council President for November, speaking in his national capacity, echoed similar concerns, warning that if the situation is allowed to deteriorate, it may eventually spiral out of control. No country can pursue its own absolute security at the expense of the security of others, he stressed, calling on the United States to refrain from pressure tactics such as military exercises and, instead, come up with practical proposals.
Ghana’s delegate said that it is time for regional actors to lead the effort in addressing the security challenges of the Korean Peninsula. “After years of very little or no progress on this file, we must resist the temptation of doing nothing because the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of action,” he warned.
The representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea said that the Korean Peninsula and the region are in an unstable situation due to the increasing military manoeuvres of the United States and its follower nations. Hence, his Government launched its reconnaissance satellite to decisively control the situation and prevent an outbreak of a new war in the region. Turning to the Council’s “sanctions resolutions” against Pyongyang, he called them “no more than illegal and unlawful pieces of paper running counter to the spirit and objectives of the Charter [of the United Nations]” — a typical outcome of the heinous hostile United States policy “aimed at depriving our country of its sovereignty”.
The Republic of Korea’s delegate noted with concern that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea amended its Constitution in September to enshrine its nuclear policy, which significantly lowered the threshold for it using nuclear weapons. If left unchecked, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s proliferation of weapons and military technology will further aggravate insecurity around the globe. Pyongyang has developed its unlawful nuclear programme based on its own playbook. The root cause lies with the nature of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea regime, not the so-called hostile policy of Seoul or the United States, which is non-existent.
NON-PROLIFERATION/DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Briefing
KHALED KHIARI, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East and Asia and the Pacific, said that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 21 November launched “Chollima-1”, a rocket loaded with the “Malligyong-1” reconnaissance satellite, from the country’s Sohae Satellite Launching Station. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s National Aerospace Technology Administration announced that the rocket flew normally along the pre-set flight track and that the satellite entered orbit. It also announced that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea would be “launching several reconnaissance satellites in a short span of time”. This follows previous failed attempts on 31 May and 24 August 2023, also using the “Chollima-1” rocket. “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s launches represent a serious risk to international civil aviation and maritime traffic,” he said.
While Pyongyang issued a pre-launch notification to the Japanese Coast Guard, it did not issue airspace or maritime safety notifications to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) or the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), he continued. “While sovereign States have the right to benefit from peaceful space activities, Security Council resolutions expressly prohibit the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] from conducting any launches using ballistic missile technology,” he went on to say. On 21 November, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the launch of yet another military satellite using ballistic missile technology and called on Pyongyang to comply with relevant Security Council resolutions.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continues to implement its five-year military plan unveiled in January 2021, he said. Pyongyang has consistently demonstrated its strong intention to continue pursuing its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions. Pending the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, it is imperative that the country maintains the highest level of safety at its nuclear facilities, he stressed. He further highlighted concerns regarding the humanitarian situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and urged Pyongyang to allow the unimpeded re-entry of the United Nations Resident Coordinator and other international UN staff.
Statements
LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD (United States), noting two permanent Council members’ unwillingness to condemn Pyongyang’s actions, asked: “How many more times must we gather for briefings like this before the Russian Federation and China join us in demanding the DPRK abandon its weapons-of-mass-destruction and ballistic missile programmes?” The United States continues to call for dialogue with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea — on any topic and without conditions — she said, stressing that Pyongyang can choose the time and subject. But, she added, that Government needs to make that choice. Further, the Council should “encourage Pyongyang to focus less on stocking an arsenal and more on stocking the pantries of the DPRK people who suffer from severe economic hardship and malnutrition” and accept the UN’s offer of support, she said. The Council should also urge Pyongyang to engage in diplomacy and, additionally, the organ should exercise its responsibility to maintain international peace and security and uphold the global non-proliferation regime.
FERIT HOXHA (Albania) recalled that, after two failed attempts, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea launched a military reconnaissance satellite on 21 November. This is another act of escalation and totally disregards Council resolutions. The regime continues to invest in its military capabilities and endanger the entire region, he said, expressing concern over the possibility of accident or miscalculation. Pyongyang is under no threat from its neighbours or anyone else in the world; rather, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is threatened by the regime and its escalatory policies. The international community has shown its intention to offer assistance to the people of that country, he noted. However, the Council is surprisingly muted and, as a result, there has been no progress towards demilitarization. Instead, the regime has become more aggressive and dangerous. “We may end up regretting this pervasive inactivity,” he asserted, calling for a prompt response through collective diplomacy.
ANDRÉS EFREN MONTALVO SOSA (Ecuador) condemned the launch of a military reconnaissance satellite by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 21 November, a new provocative act that flagrantly violates Security Council resolutions, undermines international disarmament and non-proliferation architecture and “fans the flames of regional tensions”. Noting that Pyongyang has carried out a record number of ballistic missile tests in 2023, he invited Member States — especially the co-sponsors of the two resolutions recently adopted in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) — to promote them. Citing article 25 of the Charter of the United Nations, he appealed to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to respect and comply with its obligations, including under Council resolutions, urging it to refrain from further launches of military reconnaissance satellites or ballistic missiles, as well as to immediately halt its nuclear weapons development programme.
NICOLAS DE RIVIÈRE (France) said that the recent launch demonstrates that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is continuing to act contrary to its international obligations. “North Korea has, in recent months, stepped up its nuclear rhetoric — in September, it amended its Constitution to enshrine the possession of nuclear weapons,” he said. Further, the authorities in Pyongyang repeatedly call for an exponential increase in the country’s nuclear arsenal, and these provocations are contributing to an increase in regional and international tensions. He went on to express both regret that permanent Council members are publicly supporting Pyongyang’s illicit programmes and concern over the mutual arms transfers between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation. “These constitute violations of the embargo established by resolutions of this Council,” he stressed.
ISHIKANE KIMIHIRO (Japan) condemned Pyongyang’s recent launch using ballistic missile technology, which he said flew directly over the Japanese archipelago. “We should not be deceived by any attempt to justify North Korea’s ambition to pursue unlawful weapons of mass destruction programmes,” he stressed, urging the Council to be united on non-proliferation matters and reaffirm their commitment to the global non-proliferation regime. Arms transfers from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the Russian Federation, which directly violate relevant Council resolutions, would also exacerbate the situation in Ukraine, he said. Expressing deep concern about the potential for any transfer of nuclear — or ballistic missile-related technology to Pyongyang, he called on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation to abide by their obligations under all relevant Security Council resolutions and immediately cease all activities that violate them. Pyongyang must immediately and fully comply with all relevant resolutions, engage in diplomacy and resume substantive dialogue, he added.
https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15504.doc.htm
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