S/PV.6141 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in response to a letter dated 25 May 2009 from the Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council contained in document S/2009/271. Members of the Council have before them document S/2009/301, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America. I wish to draw the attention of the members to document S/2009/274, containing a letter dated 26 May 2009 from the Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless I hear any objection, I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. There being no objection, it is so decided.

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1874 (2009). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council that wish to make a statement on the resolution just adopted.

The United States welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 1874 (2009). The resolution provides a strong and united international response to North Korea’s test of a nuclear device. The message of the resolution is clear. North Korea’s behaviour is unacceptable to the international community, and the international community is determined to respond. North Korea should return without conditions to a process of peaceful dialogue. It should honour its previous commitments to denuclearizing the Korean peninsula. It should shun provocations and proliferation. But for now, its choices have led it to face markedly stronger sanctions from the international community. The resolution condemns North Korea’s nuclear test in the strongest terms. It strengthens and enhances sanctions on North Korea in five critically important areas by imposing a total embargo on arms exports from North Korea and significantly expanding the ban on arms imports; by creating a wholly new framework for States to cooperate in the inspection of ships and aircraft suspected to be carrying weapons of mass destruction or other banned goods; by calling on States and international financial institutions to disrupt the flow of funds that could support North Korea’s missile, nuclear or proliferation activities; by committing to designate for targeted sanctions additional goods, entities and individuals involved in North Korea’s illicit behaviour; and finally, by strengthening the mechanisms to monitor and tighten the implementation of this toughened new sanctions regime. These measures are innovative, they are robust, and they are unprecedented. North Korea chose a path of provocation. As President Obama has said, actions must have consequences. Resolution 1874 (2009) has seen to it that they do. The resolution will give us new tools to impair North Korea’s ability to proliferate and threaten international stability. We are particularly grateful to our colleagues on the Council who have come together to help adopt the resolution. We thank them for their tremendous hard work in this process, for their good efforts and for their goodwill. Above all, resolution 1874 (2009) reflects the resolve of the international community and the Security Council, which has spoken with one voice. The United States stands firmly behind its provisions and is committed to ensuring its implementation.

The Security Council has just adopted resolution 1874 (2009) on the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. On 25 May, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea conducted another nuclear test in disregard of the common objection of the international community. The Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing its firm opposition. We strongly urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to honour its commitment to denuclearization, cease all actions that may exacerbate the situation and return to the Six-Party Talks. China is committed, as always, to safeguarding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, promoting the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and maintaining peace and stability there and in North-East Asia. In conducting another nuclear test, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea violated the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, impaired the effectiveness of the international nuclear non- proliferation regime and affected regional peace and stability. We support an appropriate and balanced reaction of the Security Council to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear test. The provisions of resolution 1874 (2009) are in line with Article 41 of Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The resolution not only demonstrates the international community’s firm opposition to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear test, but also sends a positive signal to that country. It reflects the firm determination of the Security Council to resolve the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue and negotiation. In that context, the Chinese delegation voted in favour of resolution 1874 (2009). It should be stressed that the sovereignty, territorial integrity and legitimate security concerns and development interests of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must be respected. Once it returns to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as a State party, will enjoy the right to enjoy the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The Security Council’s actions should not adversely impact the economic viability or the development of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the country. As indicated in the relevant paragraph of resolution 1874 (2009), if the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea complies with the relevant provisions of the resolution, the Security Council will review the appropriateness of suspending or lifting the measures it has imposed. I wish to stress that the issue of cargo inspection is complex and sensitive. Countries need to act prudently and in strict accordance with domestic and international law and on the condition of reasonable grounds and sufficient evidence. All parties should refrain from any word or deed that could exacerbate the conflict. Under no circumstances should force be used or threatened. The Chinese Government has consistently advocated a peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula through political and diplomatic means. China has made tremendous efforts to that end. We initiated the Six-Party Talks and pushed for a joint statement by the six parties in September 2005. Thanks to the concerted efforts of all parties, the Six-Party Talks made some initial progress. At present, despite the second nuclear test undertaken by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea — which represents a negative development — we remain of the view that Security Council actions are not all about sanctions and that political and diplomatic means are the only way to resolve the relevant issues, achieve the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and safeguard peace and stability in North-East Asia. In the current circumstances, the parties concerned should remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from actions that may aggravate the situation. Such behaviour would serve the common interests of all parties. China will continue to act in a responsible and constructive manner to strengthen contacts among the parties concerned, address the issue appropriately, work for an early resumption of the Six-Party Talks and play an active role in achieving the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and maintaining peace and stability there and in North-East Asia.

Japan welcomes the adoption of a firm and strong resolution on the nuclear test by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Resolution 1874 (2009) represents the strong condemnation of and deep concern of the international community over this irresponsible act. The nuclear test by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, coupled with its ballistic missile technology, constitutes a grave threat to the national security of Japan. It is also a serious threat to international peace and security and undermines the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons regime. Above all, the nuclear test, undertaken in defiance of the Security Council resolutions, is a serious challenge to the authority of the Council itself. The nuclear test and launch of a ballistic missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are totally unacceptable and require a strong reaction from the Council. Therefore, it is significant that the Security Council unanimously adopted the important resolution 1874 (2009), containing strong and effective measures. We are deeply grateful to the Council members for the understanding, flexibility and cooperation they have demonstrated in issuing the strong and unified message. In our view, the following elements of the resolution are particularly important. First, the Council condemns in the strongest terms the nuclear test by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 25 May 2009. Secondly, the Council demands that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea not conduct any nuclear test or any launch using ballistic missile technology. Thirdly, the Council demands that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea immediately and fully comply with its obligations under resolution 1718 (2006), including ceasing all activities related to nuclear programmes. Fourthly, the Council takes additional measures to prevent the flow of arms, related materiel and goods, and of financial resources that contribute to programmes for weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes, through arms embargo, cargo inspections and financial measures. The Council also activates the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006), with the support of a panel of experts, and directs the Committee to designate entities, goods and individuals within 30 days. Fifthly, the Council underlines the importance of a response from the Democratic People’s Republic to humanitarian concerns of the international community, including the abduction issue. I would like to take this opportunity to urge the Democratic People’s Republic to take concrete measures towards the resolution of the abduction issue. We strongly hope that these measures taken by the Council will induce the Democratic People’s Republic to change its course of action and comply with its obligations under relevant decisions of the Security Council. At the same time, I would like to stress that these measures are not intended to harm the innocent people of the Democratic People’s Republic. For these measures to have the intended effective impacts on that country so that it changes its behaviour and abandons all its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes, it is essential for all Member States to take necessary actions to implement those measures fully and faithfully and to cooperate with each other in effective implementation. In parallel with these measures, we will seek to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue. We should make utmost diplomatic efforts to realize the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula through the Six-Party Talks. It is the sincere hope of Japan that the Democratic People’s Republic will decide to ensure its security through abandoning nuclear weapons and achieve prosperity for its people through cooperation with the international community. We demand the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, mindful of its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations, heed the message contained in the resolution 1874 (2009), just adopted, and implement fully its obligations under the relevant Security Council resolutions and presidential statements. We strongly urge it to return immediately to the Six-Party Talks without preconditions and to make efforts towards full implementation of the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks.

We have just passed a tough new resolution aimed at stopping North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Its unanimous adoption shows that the international community is united in condemning North Korea’s continued proliferation activities and its attempts to disrupt regional security. The resolution is clear in its condemnation of North Korea’s nuclear test of 25 May and demands that it not conduct any further nuclear tests or launches using ballistic missile technology. It shows that the international community will not tolerate North Korea flouting its international obligations. In particular, the resolution includes new measures that will impede North Korea’s proliferation to other countries, toughen the arms embargo on North Korea and tackle the flows of finance that help to support its weapons programmes. We call on all Member States to implement these measures, including the new inspections regimes, fully and without delay. Just as when this Council adopted its presidential statement of 13 April (S/PRST/2009/7) in response to the previous violation, this resolution commits the sanctions committee established by resolution 1718 (2006) to determine additional items, entities and individuals to be designated. I can assure the Committee of the full and active cooperation of the United Kingdom in this regard, both in the immediate 30-day time frame and in continuing to work with partners in the United Nations and the European Union to ensure prompt and effective implementation of all robust measures in the resolution. We urge North Korea to refrain from any further provocative actions — actions that breach Security Council resolutions and North Korea’s obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, that undermine regional and global security and further isolate North Korea. North Korea should return to the negotiating table and start engaging seriously with the international community. Only once North Korea starts re-engaging seriously on denuclearization will the international community be willing to engage with it as an equal partner. North Korea and its people have everything to gain from such re-engagement.

The resolution that we have just adopted constitutes a clear message that the actions carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are not acceptable to the international community and that they jeopardize international peace and security. The fuller and more cohesive the participation of the members of the Security Council, the stronger this message is. This ought to be the norm in the Council’s actions at all times. However, we must be clear. Addressing issues of international security — non-proliferation, nuclear disarmament and the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes — cannot be the monopoly of a group of States. Quite the contrary, it concerns the whole of the international community. As set out in the Charter of this Organization, the Security Council acts on behalf of the Member States. Therefore, every member of the Security Council, not just a few of them, has the responsibility to actively participate in seeking solutions to those issues that jeopardize the maintenance of international peace and security. Aware of the sense of urgency and the gravity of the situation, my delegation decided to vote in favour of this resolution. The actions by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea constitute a clear violation of Security Council resolutions 1695 (2006) and 1718 (2006) and contradict the spirit of the presidential statement adopted on 13 April 2009 (S/PRST/2009/7). They also contravene international law and the purposes of disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation and have exacerbated tension, thus jeopardizing regional and international stability. From the beginning the Mexican Government strongly condemned the nuclear test carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic, as well as later launches of short-range missiles. Mexico shares the concern of the international community that those decisions undermine the aspiration to achieve a nuclear-weapon-free world, which includes the objective of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. We hope that the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic listens to the call for a pacific dialogue that is set forth in the resolution and returns immediately to the Six-Party Talks. Mexico reiterates that nuclear tests must cease permanently. We deem it positive that the resolution we have adopted calls on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to join the Comprehensive Nuclear- Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The test carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic has demonstrated the urgent need of the entry into force of the CTBT. For this reason, Mexico had wanted this resolution to include a clear and unequivocal commitment by all members of the Security Council to this end. It is also necessary to remember that these actions of the Democratic People’s Republic do not happen in a vacuum; they take place in a context of a constant threat to the international community that is linked to the existence of nuclear weapons and the risk of their proliferation. The possibility of the proliferation of nuclear weapons will remain as long as they are not completely eliminated. What does not exist cannot proliferate. We must recognize the recent positive signals with regard to nuclear disarmament. Some nuclear weapon States have already announced initiatives that could favour this objective, and we hope that they materialize in the near future. We also hope that the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) will produce concrete measures to achieve a nuclear- weapon-free world. Mexico will continue to seek nuclear disarmament and the adoption of effective and progressive measures that ensure the credibility and effectiveness of the international nuclear non- proliferation regime. In this context, we once again call upon the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to retract the announcement of its withdrawal from the NPT, which is the cornerstone of disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

As a party to all major multilateral treaties on nuclear disarmament, including and especially the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, Viet Nam is faithful to the objective of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, considering it to be not only an effective platform for achieving the final goal of totally eliminating nuclear weapons from the world but also an indispensable tool for guaranteeing the existence of an environment favourable to the promotion of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. As a party to the Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone, Viet Nam is also a strong advocate of the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in every part of the world, and, in that spirit, it has strongly supported the efforts made to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, which serves the long-term interests of peace, security and stability, not only of North-East Asia, but also of the wider region. Viet Nam shares others’ concerns about the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 25 May 2009 and joins the Security Council consensus on measures to resolve the Korean nuclear issue through peaceful negotiations, especially through the Six-Party Talks. At the same time, during the Council’s deliberations on the issue, Viet Nam has insisted that, while the Council intends to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the development of ballistic missile technologies in accordance with resolution 1718 (2006), the measures to be adopted by the Council must avoid adversely affecting the normal livelihood of the people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as well as the humanitarian, development and other legitimate economic activities of and in the country. Having voted for resolution 1874 (2009), we wish to emphasize that the resolution reaffirms the Council’s commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation. We support every effort by Member States to promote a comprehensive solution through dialogue, including the Six-Party Talks, and to refrain from actions that might aggravate tensions.

Libya believes that weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, cannot constitute a source of security. They pose a threat both to the States possessing them and to other States as well. Therefore, we believe that the world will not enjoy security until we manage to eliminate all stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction in all States, and that non-nuclear-weapon States should refrain from trying to acquire them. Proceeding from this position, Libya eliminated its programmes of weapons of mass destruction under international supervision. As the Council knows well, Libya is a party to a treaty making Africa a nuclear- weapon-free zone. It also looks forward to the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East region. We believe that the international community wasted a precious opportunity that would encourage other States to abandon weapons of mass destruction when Libya was not properly rewarded for doing so, and when it did not receive the assistance necessary for the acquisition of peaceful nuclear technology, particularly with regard to water desalination, treatment of diseases and the production of energy. The international community similarly failed to grant the necessary incentives at the proper time to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, just as it did not make appropriate use of the situation of Libya. Libya emphasizes the right of all States to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, in accordance with the provisions of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. At the same time, it emphasizes that the nuclear installations of all States — and I say all States without exception — must be subject to the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency as well as be under its safeguards regime. In this connection, we would like to state that measures taken by the international community must be global and non-selective, and they must extend to Israeli nuclear activities, which still threaten the Middle East region as well as the world in its entirety, without any clear-cut position having been taken by the Security Council. Libya has always been in the forefront of those States that do not encourage the imposition of sanctions, because they do not achieve the desired result. Rather, they directly harm peoples by increasing of poverty and hunger and through the deterioration of health and education services. Libya has always called for the pursuit of good offices and dialogue to settle disputes. With regard to the matter before us, we have always supported the Six-Party Talks and have encouraged the parties to pursue them as the optimal way to address the Korean nuclear question. We still believe that negotiations constitute the reasonable approach that should be pursued. We hope that the current measures adopted by the Security Council will not lead to further worsening of the situation in the region. We also hope that dialogue will be resumed and that all forms of sanctions will be cancelled once an agreement is reached among the concerned parties. Still, we believe that this resolution has been formulated in a manner that seeks to avoid making the consequences of sanctions harm the Korean people directly. Therefore, we join the general consensus prevailing in the Council.

From the outset Uganda has underscored the importance of the Security Council speaking with one voice on events in the Korean peninsula following the launch of a rocket by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea last March. We therefore welcome the unanimity of the Council on this matter. Uganda voted in favour of resolution 1874 (2009) not only because it is important to achieve non- proliferation in the Korean peninsula, but also because we are convinced that, together, we should work towards the total elimination of all nuclear weapons in order to create a more secure world.

The Russian delegation welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 1874 (2009), which condemns the nuclear test undertaken by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and, in that regard, introduces additional restrictive measures with regard to North Korea. The resolution adopted is, on the one hand, an appropriate response to the violation by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of the decisions of the Security Council and, on the other, a balanced measure that demonstrates a responsible approach to the maintenance of peace and security in the region and reaffirms the resolute commitment of the Security Council to a political and diplomatic settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula. Russia views the repeated nuclear tests by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as a serious blow to international efforts to strengthen the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and as an action that undermines the international norms laid down by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty on the prohibition of such tests and jeopardizes security and stability in the region. The circumstances required the adoption of a strong, but, at the same time, carefully measured Council resolution that, which, in addressing the proliferation risks, would lead Pyongyang to return to the Six-Party Talks. Resolution 1874 (2009) meets those goals. The additional restrictive measures on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea provided for in the resolution are fairly substantive. At the same time, they are targeted and closely linked to the need to end the nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and do not affect the pressing need of the population to receive humanitarian aid and economic assistance. It is of fundamental importance that the resolution clearly stipulates — and the Russian delegation firmly insisted on this — that all sanctions measures are to be implemented exclusively under Article 41 of the United Nations Charter, which does not provide for the use of military force. The vessel inspection regime on the high seas, introduced in the resolution, will be applied solely in the context of ensuring compliance with its provisions. It has a fully defined framework clearly limited to the situation arising as a result of the nuclear test by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It is unprecedented and cannot be interpreted more broadly. The Russian delegation actively contributed to ensuring that the resolution contains detailed provisions in support of the political and diplomatic settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula and the resumption of the Six-Party Talks. It is important that the text issues an appeal to Pyongyang immediately and without preconditions to return to that dialogue format. We trust that the resolution’s provision for the possible suspension and subsequent lifting of sanctions will be a serious incentive to the North Korean side to undertake to implement the Security Council’s decisions. We would like to stress that the attempts of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to create a nuclear missile potential not only does not strengthen its security, but, on the contrary, increases tension in North-East Asia and thus threatens the security both of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea itself and of the region as a whole. As an alternative to that extremely negative scenario, it is important to continue to work jointly with the partners in the Six-Party Talks format and other interested parties to establish a mechanism to guarantee peace and security in North-East Asia by political and diplomatic means.

France welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 1874 (2009). The international community has sent a very strong message to North Korea through the Council. For years, North Korea has chosen a dangerous path. It has built up a clandestine nuclear programme, whose exclusively military aims are evident. It has also developed a ballistic missile programme that increases the its nuclear threat. It has spread extremely sensitive technology throughout the world, thus threatening the security of us all even more. In doing so, it has repeatedly violated the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, from which it has declared its withdrawal. It has used its dangerous programmes to demand benefits in exchange for its commitment to dismantle its programme, which it has not honoured. Over the past two months, North Korea has significantly increased tensions in North-East Asia by first conducting ballistic missile tests, then a nuclear test and the firing of short- and medium-range missiles. Today’s reaction of the Security Council is commensurate with that provocation and the risk that it will encourage others to do the same. The Council condemns that activity in the strongest terms possible and demands its immediate cessation. The Council imposes very strong sanctions that will limit North Korea’s capacity to advance its banned programmes, in particular by cutting off the financial resources originating from another destabilizing activity — the spread of weapons throughout the world — by blocking the financial networks that fuel those programmes, by extending the embargo to products that feed it, by adopting sanctions against the persons and entities involved and, lastly, by demanding that States inspect, seize and destroy the transportation of banned cargo. It must be underscored that this response is, however, targeted, which ensured the Council’s support. The resolution excludes from the sanctions regime humanitarian assistance and economic development programmes for the people, whose circumstances continue to be of grave concern. The key aspects remain to be addressed. In the coming months, we must agree in the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) on the list of additional North Korean individuals and entities who, because of their involvement in sensitive activities, must be subject to individual sanctions. We must ensure that all the provisions of resolution 1874 (2009) are strictly implemented by all. In that respect, France is pleased that the Council has endowed the Committee in charge of monitoring the resolution’s implementation with a panel of experts, which will be of valuable help to the Turkish presidency of the Committee. In particular, it will enable us to considerably enhance follow-up and assistance to States that need it. We must also draw lessons from this crisis for the future. I am thinking in particular of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The usefulness of the detection system established under the CTBT Organization is clear in that respect. We must also work towards the rapid entry into force of the Treaty. Here in New York in September, France and Morocco will host the ministerial conference on article 14 of the Treaty. I am also thinking about the upcoming Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. In May 2010, we cannot fail to speak up about the seriousness of the threat posed by proliferation crises to the entire non-proliferation regime. We will also need to keep it in mind when we discuss strengthening guarantees and when we consider how to respond to States that may want to leave the Treaty. Finally, we must firmly call on North Korea to resume negotiations in the framework of the Six-Party Talks. North Korea must make a strategic choice to renounce its nuclear programme once and for all and to re-establish normal relations with its neighbours. Its people will be the first to benefit from that and it will be a first step towards the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, which France, like the European Union, dearly hopes for.

Burkina Faso, which is a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and actively advocates the timely entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, voted in favour of resolution 1874 (2009), which we have just adopted, because it firmly believes in the need for a world free of nuclear arms. While our principled position is that all States have the right to develop nuclear energy for civilian purposes, we also advocate that all States should abstain from activities in this area which could endanger international peace and security and weaken the relevant legal and institutional frameworks. That is why, together with the whole of the international community, including the countries of the region, my delegation has condemned the nuclear test carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 25 May last in contravention of relevant resolutions of the Security Council, in particular resolution 1718 (2006), and which bears the seeds of an exacerbation of tensions on the Korean peninsula and throughout the region. We hope that to the extent that resolution 1874 (2009) takes into account the essential parameters of the issue, it will make an effective contribution to the efforts to find a lasting solution to the North Korean nuclear issue. Because the measures approved are targeted, as is stated in the resolution itself, we hope they will effectively make it possible to avoid any negative humanitarian impact on the population of North Korea. That is also one of the reasons why we supported the resolution. Burkina Faso urges North Korea to resume cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to return to negotiations, in particular the Six-Party Talks, which despite all the difficulties remains the most appropriate framework for emerging from the crisis. We invite the country and all parties to do everything possible to favour dialogue, which is the only way to prevent any escalation in the region. The Security Council, the countries of the region and the entire international community have a particular responsibility in this regard. Within that framework, we hope they will accompany the parties on the way to a peaceful, comprehensive and lasting settlement of the matter.

Austria has condemned the nuclear test of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of 25 May 2009 in the strongest terms as a direct violation of resolution 1718 (2006). The unanimous adoption of the present resolution is a clear, fully appropriate and unequivocal response by the Council and the international community to the nuclear test of the Democratic People’s Republic and the threat it poses to international peace and security. As co-chairs of the Article XIV process of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), Costa Rica and Austria in particular welcome the call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to join the CTBT at the earliest date, a call contained in operational paragraph 29 of the resolution. Costa Rica and Austria believe that the recent events highlight the necessity and urgency of a rapid entry into force of the Treaty. Both countries also wish to underline the very valuable contribution made by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization in providing reliable data on the Democratic People’s Republic nuclear test of 25 May 2009.

Croatia also condemned the conducting of nuclear missile tests by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We saw it as a threat to international peace and security and therefore we supported the unanimous response on the part of the Security Council. We call upon the Democratic People’s Republic to return to the framework of the Six-Party Talks and to revoke its position on withdrawing from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We look forward to its possible accession to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should take seriously this message of the Security Council, which is binding in all aspects. We also understand that the measures adopted are not aimed at the general population of the Democratic People’s Republic but should be taken as a tool to encourage its leaders to take the path of negotiations over confrontation.

Costa Rica considers it of the greatest importance that the Security Council has reached the requisite unanimity to respond to a major challenge to international peace and security. We have confirmed this perception with the unequivocal backing for the resolution we have just adopted. It seems to my delegation that the text voted on by the Council makes measured use of the instruments at the disposal of the international community to respond to that major challenge. We trust that the Council’s action today will reactivate the strengthening of the international non-proliferation regime and provide a major boost to the encouraging announcements of new steps in the field of global disarmament. We think that the resolution is also an opportunity for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to return to the international mechanisms for dialogue, and we urge it to do so as soon as possible.

I shall now make a statement in my national capacity. Turkey is deeply concerned by the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 25 May. We believe that the nuclear test was a clear violation of Security Council resolutions 1695 (2006) and 1718 (2006). Earlier, Turkey also expressed concern at the launch carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic on 5 April. We believe such steps undermine stability, mutual trust and confidence in the region even further. The Turkish authorities have condemned the nuclear test in strong terms and supported the Security Council to send a strong and unified response to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for this provocative act. We believe that the resolution adopted today contains the necessary elements for such a response. It is our strong expectation that the Democratic People’s Republic and the international community will comply with and abide by the provisions of the resolution. At the same time, Turkey also recognizes the importance of encouraging the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to return to the Six-Party Talks. Turkey remains fully supportive of those talks and considers them the best vehicle to achieve de- nuclearization of the Korean peninsula. We believe that the talks should aim to make concrete and irreversible progress towards achieving lasting peace, security and stability in the region. In that regard, renewed determination by all parties to the talks is essential. I resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor to the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea.

On 25 May this year, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea conducted a nuclear test, violating relevant resolutions and statements by the Security Council and defying repeated warnings by the international community. The action taken by the Democratic People’s Republic poses a serious threat to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and beyond. Furthermore, the overt declaration by the Democratic People’s Republic of its intention to pursue the development of its nuclear weapons programme is a grave challenge to the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation. In conducting this second nuclear test, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has clearly demonstrated a complete disregard for its commitments under the 19 September 2005 Joint Statement and other subsequent Agreements reached at the Six-Party Talks. It is also a clear violation of resolutions 1695 (2006) and 1718 (2006), as well as of the presidential statement (S/PRST/2009/7) of 13 April 2009. Those violations by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must be met with a strong and unequivocal response by international society. In that regard, my Government welcomes and fully supports the resolution just adopted unanimously by the Security Council and appreciates the efforts of the members of the Council to address this grave common challenge. This resolution is an expression of the international community’s firm will to collectively respond to such provocative action on the part of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to fully comply with this resolution and to heed carefully the united voice of the international community that such acts will never be condoned. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must refrain from any action that would further aggravate the situation on the Korean peninsula. My Government also strongly urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to return to the Six-Party Talks, in pursuit of a peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue, and to abandon all of its nuclear weapons and missile programmes once and for all. We also hope that all Member States will make united efforts to duly implement the measures outlined in the present resolution. My Government will continue to work closely with the international community to achieve those goals.

There are no further speakers inscribed on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council will remain seized of the matter.