S/PV.7932 Security Council

I wish to warmly welcome the Secretary-General, ministers and other representatives present in the Security Council Chamber. Their presence underscores the importance of the subject matter we will discuss today. In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of the Republic of Korea to participate in this meeting. On behalf of the Council, I welcome His Excellency Mr. Yun Byung-se, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2017/337, which contains a letter dated 18 April 2017 from the Permanent Representative of United States of America to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting a concept paper on the item under consideration. I give the floor to the Secretary-General.

Allow me to first thank the United States and you personally, Mr. President, for convening this meeting. The situation on the Korean peninsula is one of the longest-standing and most serious issues before the United Nations. The Security Council first adopted a resolution (resolution 825 (1993)) on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea nuclear issue in 1993, when it urged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea not to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Twenty-four years later, and despite extensive efforts, the challenge is still unresolved. In response to the accelerated nuclear and ballistic missile activities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Security Council has adopted two sanctions resolutions (resolutions 2270 (2016) and 2321 (2016)) and met 11 times in emergency consultations since January 2016. During that period, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea conducted two nuclear tests, more than 30 launches using ballistic missile technology and various other activities relating to its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Its launches using ballistic missile technology have included tests of short-, medium-, intermediate-range and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, as well as the placement of a satellite in orbit. Those tests and launches are clear violations of Security Council resolutions. The absence of coordination and notification in advance of these launches, other than the space launch on 7 February 2016, is contrary to internationally accepted regulations and standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization. Aircraft and ships have been prevented from planning their routes in order to steer clear of those hazardous activities. And adjacent States have been prevented from promulgating dangerous, restricted or prohibited areas in their areas of responsibility. The International Atomic Energy Agency remains unable to access the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to verify the status of its nuclear programme. The Agency continues to monitor developments through satellite imagery and has observed “signatures” consistent with the operation of the plutonium-production reactor and the reported centrifuge enrichment facility. Commercial satellite imagery analysis has also indicated continued activity at the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear test site, which is believed to be maintained in a state of readiness to conduct additional nuclear-test explosions. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has increasingly stressed the importance of nuclear deterrence in its military doctrine. At the seventh Congress of the Workers Party of Korea, held in March 2016, the country’s leader, Mr. Kim Jong Un, described the country as a responsible nuclear-weapon State. More recently, in a statement to the United Nations Disarmament Commission on 3 April 2017, while reaffirming its support for comprehensive and complete nuclear disarmament, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea stated that “going nuclear-armed is the policy of our State” (see A/CN.10/PV.363). The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the only country to have conducted nuclear tests in this century. We must assume that, with each test or launch, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continues to make technological advances in its pursuit of a military nuclear capability. I condemn in the strongest terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s repeated violations of the relevant Security Council resolutions. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s continued pursuit of its nuclear-weapon and ballistic-missile programmes, in defiance of repeated demands by the Security Council to cease such activities, threatens to destabilize regional and international security and seriously undermines international disarmament and non-proliferation efforts. I am alarmed by the risk of a military escalation in the region, including by miscalculation or misunderstanding. I am particularly concerned by the possibility that efforts to offset the destabilizing activities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea could also result in increased arms competition and tensions, further impeding the ability of the international community to maintain unity and achieve a peaceful solution. The onus is on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to comply with its international obligations. At the same time, the international community must also step up its efforts to manage and reduce tensions. The absence of communication channels with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea could be dangerous. Armed conflict in North-East Asia, which is home to one fifth of the world’s people and gross domestic product, would have global ramifications. We need to avoid miscalculation and misunderstanding. We need to act now to prevent conflict and achieve sustainable peace. That means the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea refraining from further testing, complying with the relevant Security Council resolutions and exploring the resumption of dialogue. It also means reopening and strengthening communication channels, particularly military-to-military, to lower the risk of miscalculation or misunderstanding. And it means all Member States implementing the relevant Security Council resolutions. I have taken note of the Security Council’s commitment to a peaceful diplomatic and political solution to the situation; of efforts by Council members, as well as other States, to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue; and of the importance the Council has placed on working to reduce tensions. The Council has important tools at its disposal, from targeted sanctions to communication channels. As Secretary-General, I am committed to seeking peaceful and political solutions. I stand ready to assist in any way possible, but I would welcome guidance and assistance from the Security Council in this regard. I welcome the Council’s understanding of the importance of the humanitarian imperatives from the political situation. On 21 March, we released the latest Democratic People’s Republic of Korea needs and priorities document. For this year, 13 United Nations agencies and international non-governmental organizations operating in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are calling for $114 million to meet the urgent needs of 13 million especially vulnerable people — half of the country’s population. The people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea need our generosity and help. 1 also call on the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to engage with United Nations human rights mechanisms and with the international community to address the grave human rights situation and improve the living conditions of its people. I therefore welcome the visit next week by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. As we discussed in this Chamber on 18 April (see S/PV.7926), improvement on human rights will not only protect the livelihoods and dignity of people in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, but also promote long-term security and stability in the region and beyond. I would like to conclude by underlining our collective priority for conflict prevention. We must remain committed to pursuing peaceful and diplomatic paths forward for a peaceful and denuclearized Korean peninsula.

I thank the Secretary-General for that most helpful briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the Secretary of State of the United States. I am grateful for this opportunity to address the Security Council According to resolution 2321 (2016), the stated objective of the Council is North Korea’s abandonment of its nuclear weapons and ballistic-missile programmes. For the past 20 years, well-intentioned diplomatic efforts to halt those programmes have failed. It is only by first dismantling them that there can be peace, stability and economic prosperity for all of North-East Asia. With each successive detonation and missile test, North Korea pushes North-East Asia and the world closer to instability and broader conflict. The threat of a North Korean nuclear attack on Seoul or Tokyo is real. It is likely only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the United States mainland. Indeed, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has repeatedly claimed that it plans to conduct such a strike. Given that rhetoric, the United States cannot idly stand by, nor can other members of the Council that are within striking distance of North Korean missiles. Having for years displayed a pattern of behaviour that defies multiple Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 2321 (2016) and 2270 (2016), and erodes global progress on nuclear non-proliferation, there is no reason to think that North Korea will change its behaviour under the current multilateral sanctions framework. For too long, the international community has been reactive in addressing North Korea. Those days must come to an end. Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences. We have said this before, and it bears repeating: the policy of strategic patience is over. Additional patience will mean only acceptance of a nuclear North Korea. The longer we bide our time, the sooner we will run out of it. In the light of this growing threat, the time has come for all of us to put new pressure on North Korea to abandon its dangerous path. I urge the Council to act before North Korea does. We must work together to adopt a new approach and impose increased diplomatic and economic pressure on the North Korean regime. The new campaign that the United States is embarking upon is driven by our own national security considerations and is welcomed by many nations that are concerned for their own security and that question why North Korea claims nuclear capabilities for which it has no need. Our goal is not regime change, nor do we desire to threaten the North Korean people or destabilize the Asia-Pacific region. Over the years, we have withdrawn our own nuclear weapons from South Korea and offered aid in North Korea as proof of our intent to de-escalate the situation and normalize relations. Since 1995, the United States has provided more than $1.3 billion in aid to North Korea. We look forward to resuming our contributions once the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea begins to dismantle its nuclear weapons and missile-technology programmes. For its own sake, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must dismantle its nuclear-missile programmes if it wants to achieve the security, economic development and international recognition that it seeks. North Korea must understand that respect will never follow recklessness. North Korea must take concrete steps to reduce the threat that its illegal weapons programmes pose to the United States and our allies before we can even consider talks. I propose that all nations take the following three actions beginning today. First, we call on States Members of the United Nations fully to implement the commitments that they have made regarding North Korea. This includes all measures required and resolutions 2321 (2016) and 2270 (2016). Those nations that have not fully enforced those resolutions discredit this body. Secondly, we call on countries to suspend or downgrade diplomatic relations with North Korea. North Korea exploits its diplomatic privileges to fund its illicit nuclear-missile technology programmes, and constraining its diplomatic activity will cut off a flow of needed resources. In the light of North Korea’s recent actions, normal relations with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are simply not acceptable. Thirdly, we must increase North Korea’s financial isolation. We must levy new sanctions on Democratic People’s Republic of Korea entities and individuals supporting its weapons and missile programmes and tighten those that are already in place. The United States also would much prefer the countries and peoples in question to own up to their lapses and correct their behaviour themselves, but we will not hesitate to sanction third-country entities and individuals supporting the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s illegal activities. We must bring maximum economic pressure to bear on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea by severing the trade relationships that directly fund its nuclear-missile programme. I call on the international community to suspend the flow of North Korean guest workers and to impose bans on North Korean imports, especially coal. We must all do our share, but China alone, which accounts for 90 per cent of North Korean trade, has economic leverage over Pyongyang Yang that is unique, and its role is therefore particularly important. The United States and China have held very productive exchanges on this issue, and we look forward to further actions that build on what China has already done. Lastly, as we have said before, all options for responding to future provocation must remain on the table. Diplomatic and financial levers of power will be backed up by willingness to counteract North Korean aggression with military action, if necessary. We would much prefer a negotiated solution to this problem, but we are committed to defending ourselves and our allies against North Korean aggression. This new pressure campaign will be swiftly implemented and painful to North Korean interests. I realize that some nations for which a relationship with North Korea has been in some ways a net-positive may be disinclined to implement the measures of pressure on North Korea. But the catastrophic effects of a North Korean nuclear strike outweigh any economic benefits. We must be willing to face the hard truths and make hard choices right now so as to prevent disastrous outcomes in future. Business as usual is not an option. There is also a moral dimension to this problem. Countries must know by now that helping the North Korean regime means enabling cruelty and suffering. North Korea feeds billions of dollars into a nuclear programme it does not need while its own people starve. The regime’s pursuit of nuclear weapons does not serve its own national security or the well-being of a people trapped in tyranny. I ask the community of nations to help us preserve security and protect human dignity. In one of my first trips as America’s Secretary of State, I looked across the demilitarized zone at the haunted land of North Korea. Beyond the border is a nation of sorrow, frozen in time. While the world sees the gleaming buildings of Pyongyang, the blight of oppression and starvation has swept this land for more than 60 years. But even though the present condition of that country is bleak, the United States believes in a future for North Korea. These first steps towards a more hopeful future will happen most quickly if other stakeholders in the region and the global community join us. For years, North Korea has been dictating the terms of its dangerous course of action. It is time for us to retake control of the situation. We ask the members of the Council and all other partners to implement a new strategy to denuclearize North Korea. I now resume my functions as President of the Council.

I would like to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to you, Mr. President, for having convened this timely meeting on the denuclearization of North Korea. I wish also to thank Secretary-General Guterres for his informative briefing. The threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic-missile development has reached a new level. Since January 2016, it has conducted two nuclear tests and at least 30 ballistic-missile launches. This threat is not just hypothetical. For ordinary citizens, it is only too real. On 6 March, North Korea launched four ballistic missiles, three of which landed within Japan’s exclusive economic zone. There was no advance notice, and the consequences of these reckless launches could have been catastrophic for innocent fishing boats, sea vessels and aircraft. These launches are an intentional provocation, as evidenced by North Korean media reports stating that the North Korean units responsible for striking United States bases in Japan in contingencies were involved. It is therefore increasingly important for the countries in the region to strengthen deterrence so as to ensure peace and security. Now is a good time to recall the commitments that North Korea has made on denuclearization in the past. In 2005, North Korea, together with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the United States, “unanimously reaffirmed that the goal of the six- party talks is the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in a peaceful manner” in a Six-Party Talks joint statement. All parties expect North Korea to remain committed to this position. There is no doubt that dialogue is necessary to achieve the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. However, in the current situation, in which North Korea continues to advance its nuclear and ballistic-missile programmes, a meaningful dialogue is clearly not possible. In order to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table, the international community must send a strong message that provocation comes at a high price and that no bright future awaits North Korea without its denuclearization. With this in mind, Japan calls on all Member States to increase pressure on North Korea through the vigorous and thorough implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. Japan has been implementing additional measures against North Korea that go beyond its obligations under Security Council resolutions aimed at severely restricting the flow of people, goods and funds, including a total ban on exports and imports. Japan has also actively assisted with capacity-building in the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in order to enhance the effectiveness of Security Council resolutions. No State should allow itself to become a loophole in the Democratic Republic’s of Korea’s sanctions regime. Japan calls on all States Members of the United Nations that have not already done so to submit national implementation reports to the sanctions committees on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as required by Security Council resolutions. Any further provocations, including nuclear tests should be met promptly by even more stringent Council resolutions. The Democratic Republic of Korea has defiantly dismissed Security Council resolutions as illegal and refused to be bound by such obligations. That has real humanitarian consequences. The regime’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development comes at the expense of the welfare and basic needs of the people in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Those people include international abductees. In the past, agents of the Democratic Republic of Korea infiltrated Japan and abducted a number of Japanese citizens, including a girl as young as 13 years old. Abductees’ futures have been stolen, and their families torn apart. Japan attaches the utmost importance to the abductions issue, which undermines the sovereignty of Japan and casts fear over the lives of our citizens. Victims of abduction are not limited to Japanese citizens. It is a universal issue facing the international community and a violation of fundamental human rights. In urging the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to take concrete action on that issue, Japan asks for the international community’s support and understanding. Regrettably, the possibility of further provocations by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is high. The Council must send a clear message that such actions will lead only to more rigorous responses from the international community. Japan strongly urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to demonstrate its seriousness, as well as concrete actions on denuclearization. Japan looks forward to continuing to work closely with all of our colleagues here today on this matter.

I would like to thank you, Sir, for taking the initiative to convene today’s debate on the important issue of nuclear non-proliferation. I also thank Secretary- General António Guterres, whose briefing enriches our discussion and allows us to make our efforts clear. The issue of nuclear non-proliferation is one of the world’s priorities, as illustrated by resolution 1(1), the first resolution adopted by the General Assembly, in January 1946. The goal of that resolution was to eliminate all atomic weapons. Because it is convinced about the risk that such weapons pose to the survival of humankind, my country is in favour of the complete elimination of military nuclear activities, and not their mere reduction. Complete elimination is the only way to save the world from the devastation that would ensue from the use of nuclear weapons. That alone can ensure the survival of our world and the future of present and future generations, by allowing them to live without the fear of atomic bombs being detonated and in a world freed from the terror of nuclear disaster. In addition to such clearly identified threats, there is also the increased risk of proliferation by non-State actors, because of the rising incidence of terrorism and new risks emerging from the ill-advised use of rapid advances in science, technology and international trade. In the light of such challenges, my country has firmly denounced the nuclear test carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 6 January 2016 and several ballistic missile launches, which are all serious violations of the country’s international obligations, pursuant to resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013), 2094 (2013), 2270 (2016), 2321 (2016). Such actions are a clear illustration that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is moving ahead with its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programme and is determined to increase its nuclear power. This not only poses a threat to the people living on the Korean peninsula and the region; it is also a serious breach of the non-proliferation regime. Senegal therefore calls on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to respect its international commitments and obligations. In 2016, the Security Council unanimously adopted two resolutions — resolution 2270 (2016), on 2 March 2016, and 2321 (2016), on 30 November 2016 — which considerably strengthened previous sanctions against Pyongyang. Nonetheless, it must be pointed out that such measures, in addition to the unilateral sanctions imposed by some countries, have been unsuccessful in encouraging the country to abandon its military nuclear ambitions. In truth, none of those sanctions have prevented the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from continuing to gradually expand its nuclear capacity and increase its ballistic missiles arsenal, which is a flagrant violation of the Security Council’s resolutions and its repeated requests. Senegal has ratified the main instruments underpinning international non-proliferation and nuclear security regime. It also respects States’ obligations under resolution 1540 (2004), whose thirteenth anniversary is being celebrated today. Similarly, Senegal has submitted its report on the implementation of the provisions of resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2094 (2013) and 2270 (2016). My county is in the process of finalizing its report on resolution 2321 (2016), with a view to submitting it to the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006). It is important that we urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to honour its obligations. Once again, before concluding, I would like to sincerely thank you, Sir, for your commitment and that of your country, through dialogue and diplomacy, to seek political negotiated solutions to the crises that disrupt the world’s operations. My country’s President lauds your efforts and commitment to find an unprecedented consensus required to put an end to the serious threats posed by the actions of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

The continued escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula in recent times has cause widespread concerns in the international community. If the tensions on the peninsula are not kept under control, in particular in the case of unexpected events, it is highly likely that the situation will take a drastic turn for the worse and spiral out of control. There is no lack of such painful lessons in history; we must remain on high alert. To that end, China believes that today’s Security Council meeting is necessary. We thank Secretary- General Guterres for his briefing to the Council. We hope that the parties can reach consensus in order to fully implement Security Council resolutions related to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, thereby intensifying efforts to promote peace talks to bring the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula back on the path towards a negotiated solution. With regard to the nuclear issue on the peninsula, China’s position is clear: no matter how the situation may develop, we must adhere to the following two basic paths. First, we must remain committed to the goal of denuclearization, which is the basic precondition necessary for long-term peace and stability on the peninsula that we must achieve in order to safeguard the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. Come what may, we should never waver in our commitment to achieving that goal. To that end, China’s position of opposing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s research, development and possession of nuclear weapons remains rock solid. We are firmly committed to the implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions. We urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to stop its nuclear- and missile-development activities, return to its commitment to denuclearization and honour its denuclearization obligations. At the same time, we also call on other parties concerned to demonstrate political wisdom, take political steps and work constructively together towards the denuclearization of the peninsula. Secondly, we must remain committed to taking the path of resolving issues through dialogue and negotiations. The use of force does not solve differences and leads only to bigger disasters. As the only solution, dialogue and negotiations also represent the sensible choice for all parties. Our past experience with regard to resolving the nuclear issue on the peninsula has shown that whenever there is recourse to dialogue and negotiations, basic stability on the peninsula is maintained, and efforts towards denulcearization can yield results. During the five-year period from 2003 to 2007, when the parties were engaged in dialogue and negotiations, three joint documents were adopted. In particular, the 19 September joint statement in 2005 set out the road map for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s abandonment of all nuclear programmes and the realization of peace on the peninsula. Even today, the joint statement still carries major positive significance and has been reaffirmed and acknowledged by all Democratic People’s Republic of Korea-related resolutions adopted by the Security Council. Since dialogue and negotiations came to a halt in 2008, the situation on the peninsula has gradually spiralled out of control. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has accelerated its nuclear-missile development process and conducted four nuclear tests and dozens of missile launches. We therefore hope that all parties will devote greater efforts to seeking a political settlement through dialogue and consultations, as required by the relevant Security Council resolutions. China is not a focal point for resolving the problem on the peninsula. The key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not rest in the hands of China. However, as a close neighbouring country to the peninsula, with a responsible attitude with regard to peace and stability there and in the region, China has made unrelenting efforts and played a unique role in promoting a negotiated solution of the issue over the years. Through China’s efforts and the support of all parties, the three-party talks on the nuclear issue on the peninsula was expanded to include six parties. In the current circumstances, China remains prepared to work with all parties to contribute anew to the settlement of the nuclear issue on the peninsula. In view of recent developments on the peninsula, China has put forward a double suspension proposal that builds on the dual-track approach, which we proposed earlier. The dual-track approach aims to promote parallel progress in the denuclearization of the peninsula and the establishment of a peace mechanism on the peninsula in a synchronized and reciprocal manner, thereby ultimately achieving both goals together. The double suspension proposal, which calls for the suspension of nuclear and missile activities by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the suspension of large-scale military exercises by the United States and the Republic of Korea, seeks to bring both sides back to the negotiating table, thereby initiating the first step of that approach. China’s proposals have taken into consideration both the short- and long-term goals, while making them complementary to one another. While they are designed to address the most pressing concerns of the parties, they also pave the way towards denuclearization. They are consistent with the requirements of the relevant Security Council resolutions and the fundamental interests of all parties, including those of the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The proposals are objective, impartial, reasonable and practical, and are gaining the understanding and support of an increasing number of countries. We, of course, also know that some countries might continue to have certain doubts. I would like to point out that the most urgent task now is to stop the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear and missile development. To achieve that goal, it is necessary to put aside the debate over who should take the first step and stop arguing over who is right and wrong. Rather, we should start from the low-hanging fruits and remove flash points so as to engender peace on the peninsula and establish conditions conducive to stability in the region. In that regard, I also want to stress that the state of affairs of the peninsula issue is not caused by any one single party, and it is not realistic to ask one party alone to assume all the responsibilities in connection with resolving the issue. As President Xi Jinping said, only with all relevant parties shouldering their respective responsibilities and meeting one another half-way will there be a timely solution to the nuclear issue on the peninsula. We call upon all parties, especially those directly concerned by the issue, namely, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States, to show a sincere desire for dialogue and restart the dialogue process. Furthermore, we look to the Council to build further consensus and speak with a more unified voice. At the same time, China will remain open to all useful proposals from the parties. All ideas conducive to resuming dialogue and negotiations aimed at achieving denuclearization and maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula are welcomed for consideration in our discussions. As we meet for this special ministerial meeting of the Security Council, China calls on all parties to make concerted efforts to address two urgent tasks. First, we call for a de-escalation of the situation on the peninsula as rapidly as possible. Given the gravity of the situation on the peninsula, China strongly urges all parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and avoid provocative rhetoric or actions that could lead to a miscalculation. I want to stress that there is, and should be, no double standard with regard to this issue. While we demand that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea observe the relevant Security Council resolutions and stop advancing its nuclear and missile development, we also demand that the United States, the Republic of Korea and other parties refrain from conducting, or even expanding, military exercises directed against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Secondly, all parties should comprehensively respect and fully implement the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea-related Security Council resolutions. In addition to introducing sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the resolutions that have been adopted to date also call for resuming the Six- Party Talks, avoiding an escalation of tensions and committing to dialogue. In another words, imposing sanctions and resuming talks are both efforts to implement the relevant Security Council resolutions. We cannot choose one over the other, or implement only what we see fit. As a response to the accelerated progress of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear and missile development, the international community needs to step up non-proliferation efforts. In response to the progressive escalation of tensions on the peninsula, it is also necessary for the parties to step up efforts to promote peace talks. Those two stepping- up actions can help promote the peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue on the peninsula. The Chinese word for crisis contains two characters, which respectively mean danger and opportunity. Danger embodies opportunity and engenders opportunity. In China’s view, now is the time to seriously consider resuming talks. Before concluding, I would like to reiterate China’s firm opposition against the United States deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in the Republic of Korea. It is a move that seriously undermines the strategic security of China and other countries in the region and damages trust and cooperation among the parties in connection with the peninsula issue. It is detrimental to achieving denuclearization and maintaining long-term stability on the peninsula. China once again urges the relevant parties to immediately stop the deployment process. Let us make joint efforts to promote denuclearization and uphold stability on the peninsula based on mutual respect and trust.

The Charter of the United Nations defines the supreme task of the Security Council as the maintenance of international peace and security. There could hardly be a clearer threat to world peace more demanding of a unified response than the activities of one Member of the United Nations, and that is North Korea breaking its treaty obligations, ignoring the will of the Council and making blood- curdling threats to inflict grievous harm on peoples of other countries. For decades North Korea has doggedly pursued the means to act on those threats. In a nation where the entire gross domestic product is about $25 billion, and where its people have over recent decades been exposed to terrible suffering and been reduced to eating the leaves and the bark of trees, the Pyongyang regime has devoted its energy to developing nuclear weapons and the missiles to convey them. Last year alone, North Korea tested two nuclear devices and more than 24 ballistic missiles. This year we witnessed more missile tests, and I remind the Council that every one of those tests breaks seven United Nations resolutions stretching back to resolution 1695 (2006), which was adopted unanimously. Therefore we should reject, I am afraid, any claims of moral equivalence between the actions of North Korea and the defensive and precautionary measures of other nations. The latter are legitimate; the former are not. In spite of the strenuous efforts of some to obscure that distinction, it cannot be ignored or elided. The United Kingdom therefore believes it is vital for the Council to stand ready to take further significant measures to bring about a peaceful resolution. Sooner or later the North Korean leadership must realize that their isolation not only holds back their own people — if the regime really cares about its own people — but also weakens their own grip on power. The Council must be united in its demand that the present course not continue. Today, Great Britain is proud to have joined its allies to lead the enforcement of sanctions and seek a peaceful solution. We urge other partners with direct influence on North Korea to use that leverage to the full, with the aim of easing tensions and ensuring compliance with the expressed will of the United Nations. There is a vital role for China and Russia, both of whom are neighbours of North Korea with influence on Pyongyang and are permanent members of the Council. They have a special responsibility to preserve international peace and security. The United Kingdom calls on Russia and China and other Member States to use whatever influence they possess to restrain North Korea and guide its leaders toward a peaceful settlement. Last year the Council decided to toughen sanctions on North Korea, including by restricting the regime’s access to foreign currency. However, the United Nations Panel of Experts has shown that not every Member State is fully enforcing those resolutions. Most Members of the United Nations have yet to obey the requirement in resolution 2270 (2016) to submit a national report on their implementation of sanctions. The United Kingdom believes that all Member States should reaffirm their commitment to enforcing United Nations sanctions against North Korea. We also have no doubt that negotiations must at some point form part of the solution; but first it is reasonable to expect North Korea to make verifiable progress toward meeting its obligations to denuclearize the Korean peninsula. For, as long as Pyongyang continues to defy the Council, the conditions will not be helpful for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks or negotiations in any other format. While the most pressing threat is North Korea’s ballistic-missile and nuclear ambitions, we must never forget the horrifying abuse the regime metes out to its own people, as documented by the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 2014. The Council has discussed human rights in North Korea on previous occasions, and there should be no reticence about doing so. The United Kingdom fully supports the work of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, both of which perform the crucial task of investigating and recording these violations. Britain stands alongside our allies in making clear that North Korea must obey the United Nations and halt its nuclear-weapon and ballistic-missile programmes, disarming in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. Only then can the Council be assured of the peace and security of the region, and only then can the people of North Korea have the chance of a better future.

We thank the United States presidency for organizing this high-level briefing meeting on an issue that has serious implications for regional and international peace and security. We express our appreciation to the United States Secretary of State for presiding over this important meeting. We also thank the Secretary-General for his useful briefing. We are indeed deeply concerned by the extremely tense situation prevailing in the Korean peninsula. No stone should be left unturned to de-escalate the situation. There is a real danger that it could get out of hand. That should never be allowed to happen; nor should the situation be allowed to spiral out of control. The activities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are no doubt extremely dangerous. Ethiopia joins other members in once again reiterating its strong condemnation of the latest launches of ballistic missiles by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in violation of the numerous resolutions adopted by the Council. The need to find a lasting and comprehensive political and diplomatic solution to this long-standing issue through dialogue has never been more urgent than today. In that regard, compliance by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea with its international commitments on denuclearization, including full compliance with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, is indeed indispensable. That would no doubt pave the way for a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has the responsibility to do that. In the meantime, it is important to reduce the tension in the Korean peninsula in order to ensure that matters do not get out of hand by accident. But the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has to use the opportunity to avert what otherwise could be a slide into war from which no one would benefit. The full implementation by Member States of the relevant Security Council resolutions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is also necessary. We believe there is an outreach activity by the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) with different regional groups, which will contribute to the implementation of the sanctions regime against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. For our part, we have taken all the necessary measures to ensure that Ethiopia is in full compliance with all that is called for by the relevant Council resolutions imposing sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We will continue with resolve to meet our obligations in that regard. I wish to conclude by reaffirming our commitment to fulfilling our obligations and to continuing to engage constructively with the Panel charged with the responsibility of monitoring the implementation of the sanctions regime imposed on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We look forward to the restoration of a trustworthy peace and security on the Korean peninsula. We all need that.

I would like to thank His Excellency Secretary of State Tillerson for convening today’s debate on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which is a topic that has unfortunately become highly relevant in the light of recent events. For the people and the Government of Kazakhstan, nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and nuclear security have been essential priorities in our national policy since independence. From the time we joined the United Nations, in March 1992, my country has worked with steadfast determination to promote disarmament and non-proliferation globally. That is why I hope today’s meeting will help the Security Council to come up with collective multilateral action to bring peace to the Korean peninsula and find ways to its achieve its denuclearization. My country strongly believes that the Security Council, as the single body entrusted with maintaining international peace and security, should preserve its unity at this critical stage. In that regard, we welcome the Council’s recent statement stressing the importance of working to reduce tensions on the Korean peninsula and beyond. We are all pained to see how the situation in and around the Korean peninsula has worsened with the passage of time, resulting in a complete impasse. It is worrisome that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continues to lunch ballistic missiles and conduct nuclear tests in flagrant violation of all relevant Security Council resolutions. As one of the Chairs of the ninth Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and as the Chairman of The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, my country makes every effort to promote the nuclear non-proliferation process. Five nuclear tests have been conducted so far, and a sixth could be around the corner, if we do not take real action aimed at defusing tensions. We therefore urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to refrain from actions that have a negative impact on the nuclear-disarmament and non-proliferation process and pose a threat to both regional and global security. We call on all Member States to strictly observe the sanctions regime put in place under all the relevant Security Council resolutions aimed at the denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as well as under the CTBT, which calls upon all States to refrain from conducting any nuclear- weapon-test explosions or any other type of nuclear explosion and to maintain the moratoriums. In taht regard, Kazakhstan co-sponsored resolutions 2270 (2016), 2310 (2016) and 2321 (2016). The denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is a key element in preserving broader security across Asia and Central Asia. Possession of nuclear arms by the North Korean regime will create a precedent that will undoubtedly lead to an escalation of the regional arms race, given that parties might be tempted to engage in further proliferation in order to balance out the nuclear threat posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We would like to remind the Council that the principal position of Kazakhstan is based not only on the most severe condemnation of the use of weapons of mass destruction by any party but also on the resolution of conflicts through dialogue and negotiations. I would like to inform the Council that Kazakhstan is still struggling with the devastating legacy of the Cold War, which is why the closure of the second-largest nuclear- test site and the renunciation of the world’s fourth- largest nuclear arsenal remain among the proudest achievements of my country. Soon, together with other sponsors, we are going to launch in Kazakhstan the first-ever International Atomic Energy Agency Low-Enriched Uranium Bank. As a non-permanent member of this organ, we bring the same passion and commitment to nuclear non-proliferation as one of the firm principles, goals and priorities underlying our work, as envisioned by my President, Mr. Nursultan A. Nazarbayev, in his address at the general debate of the General Assembly at its seventieth session (see A/70/PV.13) and in his manifesto entitled “The World. The Twenty-First Century”. I believe that all of the foregoing gives Kazakhstan the strong moral right to call upon all Member States — and first and foremost the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea — to make every effort to resolve this troublesome situation. Achieving this goal requires, above all, intensified dialogue among all stakeholders in regional and global security, and my country is ready to contribute to that end. My country’s non-nuclear status is the most convincing example of how the non-nuclear approach to State development is the only promising one. We call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to opt for the same choice. It has been proved that there is no situation for which there is no peaceful solution, and North Korea is no exception. As an example, in 2013, Kazakhstan’s status as a trusted mediator allowed it to facilitate the talks on the Iranian nuclear programme, which consequently contributed to the resumption of negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran. We are convinced that there is no other option available to us but the collective commitment to international obligations taken in accordance with Security Council resolutions. Kazakhstan believes that now is the right time and is ready to work with all Member States to eliminate the nuclear threat for the sake of our world. Complete nuclear disarmament and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s giving up of its nuclear ambitions could be ensured by a truce backed by the permanent members of the Security Council, guaranteeing political and military stability on the peninsula. If it chooses the path of peaceful coexistence, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will receive significant benefits resulting from closer engagement with the Asia-Pacific community. Such an approach, combined with a comprehensive and holistic regional strategy, will ensure stability for the country, the peninsula and the wider subregion. We call upon all parties, all relevant stakeholders and all Member States to take balanced and thoughtful actions that do not lead to irreversible consequences. We call on all parties concerned to refrain from actions that could increase the risk of a military escalation and further tensions in the region.

There is no doubt that what we are living through at present is one of the most acute and dramatic phases of developments on the Korean peninsula. Without exaggeration, peace in the region recently underwent a serious test, and the threat of this confrontation moving into a hot phase was higher as than ever, and it remains so today. The belligerent rhetoric coupled with reckless muscle-flexing has led to a situation where the whole world is now seriously wondering whether there is going to be a war or not. As is well known, under the conditions of such tension, one ill-thought-out or misinterpreted step could lead to the most terrible and lamentable consequences. In Russia, we are watching the dangerous development of the situation in the region with alarm, as we ourselves are part of the region. Of course, we are united in condemning the provocative nuclear- missile activity by Pyongyang, which over the past 18 months, it has taken on a very dangerous dynamic. We do understand very well the feelings of our neighbours when another missile is launched from North Korean territory without a notification, thereby subjecting the lives of people and maritime and aviation transport to disproportionate risks. We reject such activity by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which is confirmed by our support of the sanctions resolutions adopted by the Security Council, namely, resolutions 2270 (2016) and 2321 (2016). We call upon the North Korean authorities to end their proscribed programmes, return to the non-proliferation regime and join once again the International Atomic Energy Agency verification regime. At the same time, it should be clear for everyone that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will probably not give up its nuclear weapons as long as it sense that the existence of a direct threat to their security, which is exactly how the North Koreans view the regular large-scale manoeuvres and exercises by the United States and its alliesin the region. That is how they view the dispatch of the American naval armada to the region that we have witnessed this month. An additional destabilizing factor in the region is the decision  — taken by Washington and Seoul last year in line with the wrong logic of creating a global missile defence system — to place on the territory of the Republic of Korea elements of the United States missile defence system known as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense. We have said on many occasions that this step woul not only, to put it mildly, not be viewed with enthusiasm by Pyongyang, but it would also undermine the existing military balance in the region, thereby jeopardizes the security of neighbouring States. We are not the only ones who view this in a negative way. Once again, we call upon the United States and the Republic of Korea to review the desirability of such a step, and we call upon other members in the region to resist the temptation to become involved in such destabilizing efforts. As for international sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, we would like once again to reaffirm our commitment to their implementation. However, such measures should not be a goal in themselves, but rather an instrument to involve this country in constructive negotiations on existing issues. Resolving the nuclear issue of the Korean peninsula solely by imposing sanctions and placing pressure on Pyongyang is impossible. Sanctions should not be used either economically to suffocate the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea nor to worsen the humanitarian situation. This applies in particular to the illegitimate unilateral restrictions targeting civilian areas not associated with the country’s nuclear missile programmes. Such sanctions are the reason for the serious deterioration in the living conditions of the North Korean people, which, incidentally, was identified as a cause for alarm in the most recent report of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. They are justifiably very almed about that. We must acknowledge that the humanitarian exemptions provided for by the Security Council’s sanctions regime essentially do not work. Because of the ban on correspondent relations with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, it is impossible to purchase abroad the goods and food stuffs necessary for the economy. Because of the way the financial and banking system works, it is very difficult to obtain funding for the United Nations humanitarian agencies that are still working in the country. Since Pyongyang cannot replenish its foreign currency reserves owing to the existing restrictions, it could find itself in a situation where it is impossible for it to give the United Nations the funds that are to be channelled to it, as permitted by the Committee. A separate issue is the situation with regard to foreign diplomatic missions in Pyongyang. We should not allow a situation in which diplomatic missions continue to experience difficulties in carrying out their work because of the restrictions imposed on the country. We have repeatedly raised this issue at meetings of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006), but as a result of the obstructionist position taken by its individual members, the situation has not changed at all. Undoubtedly, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is conducting itself inappropriately. It refuses to abide by the laws of the international community, which are established in relevant Security Council resolutions. At the same time, the options for using force are completely unacceptable and can lead to catastrophic consequences for both the Korean peninsula and the region of North-East Asia as a whole. We should choose to use our diplomatic tools to the greatest extent possible. Under the current conditions, all parties involved should demonstrate calm and restraint and not take steps that could increase the tension. We need to view the settlement of the situation in the context of the whole range of issues among the parties and thereby create the conditions for the denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. This is impossible without normalizing the overall military and political situation, putting an end to the build-up of military infrastructure, scaling down the manoeuvring and building trust among States in the region. We are convinced that there is no alternative to a political settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, on the basis of the joint statement issued on 19 September 2005 by the participants in the Six- Party Talks. The Chinese proposals are in the same vein when they talk about suspension for suspension and parallel moves. These ideas deserve serious attention, as they could be a starting point for us to overcome the current impasse and renew the negotiating process. We need to seek channels of communication with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea authorities and lead them to a substantive dialogue on nuclear and missile issues. As recent events have shown, under no circumstances can we allow the situation in the region to develop on its own. As the saying goes, even bad peace is better than a good quarrel. In that connection, we are ready for closer interaction with all partners in order to settle the nuclear and other issues on the Korean peninsula as soon as possible through the only means possible  — namely, political and diplomatic means  — through mutually respectful dialogue and mutual consideration of interests and concerns.

First, let me express my gratitude to you, Mr. President, and to the United States presidency of the Security Council for convening this timely and important meeting. I also thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. The situation on the Korean peninsula, particularly the pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is of great concern for the region and for our world more broadly. Tensions have risen in recent months and the potential for mistakes, misunderstandings and miscalculations is high. For this reason, it is important that the Security Council seize this opportunity to reflect on how tensions can be reduced and how the Council can facilitate a comprehensive solution to the situation. Despite repeated unanimous condemnations by the Security Council and the adoption of a number of Security Council resolutions  — which have lead to the most rigorous sanctions regime under the United Nations system  — the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea persists in accelerating its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programme. In doing so, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continues to show blatant disregard for its international obligations and to threaten international peace and security. Its actions are also incompatible with the existing global norm against nuclear testing embodied in the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and they go against non-proliferation efforts. Therefore, we call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to take immediate steps towards a complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of its nuclear weapons and missile programme. This will help pave the way for peaceful and prosperous development on the Korean peninsula. In addition, it is clear that there is a need for a regional security arrangement in the medium term to be able to realize this goal in full. Meanwhile sanctions must be duly implemented to have the desired effect. This is also a matter of credibility for the entire United Nations system. Yet the implementation of the sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea remains insufficient and highly inconsistent, as highlighted in the latest report of the Panel of Experts to the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006). The recommendations provided by the Panel must be followed up, and there is a need for a stronger political commitment by all United Nations Members in that regard. We need additional capacity at all levels to ensure better compliance with the letter and spirit of the resolutions adopted by the Council. However, sanctions alone will not solve the situation on the Korean peninsula. Now diplomacy is crucial. Intensified and creative diplomatic efforts are urgently needed to prepare for a peaceful, diplomatic and comprehensive solution. The press statement in response to the latest ballistic missile launch (SC/12801) confirms the continued commitment of the Council to dialogue. The situation must be approached without prejudice and we must be prepared to consider both new and previous proposals and agreements. Sweden is ready to do its part to fulfil that goal. Sweden, with its Embassy in Pyongyang, is the Power protecting the interests of the United States, Canada and Australia in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We are also a member of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, and in that context we strongly encourage the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to resume contact and cooperation with the Commission at the border station in Panmunjom, which would also help to reduce tensions and increase trust and transparency. Like other speakers, I would also like to take this opportunity to draw attention to the extremely worrying human rights situation and precarious humanitarian conditions in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It is the duty of all of us to continue to highlight the atrocities being committed by the regime against its own people, and the international community should continue to pursue accountability for those crimes, but we should also take into consideration the humanitarian situation of the people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea so as to avoid increasing their suffering as we implement the sanctions. The pursuit of the development and use of weapons of mass destruction represents one of the world’s gravest threats to international peace and security. Preventing that is a crucial responsibility of the Security Council. There can be no military solution to the situation on the Korean peninsula, and we once again urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to re-engage in a credible and meaningful dialogue with the international community. We also urge ourselves, the international community, to be ready. In the meantime, Sweden will stand united with the members of the Council in condemning any action that jeopardizes international peace and security.

I would first like to thank the presidency for convening this timely meeting on such a key and pressing issue for the Security Council. I believe that the Council should make every possible effort to resolve the worsening crisis created by the persistent ambitions of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to pursue a military nuclear programme. Italy condemns in the strongest terms all the nuclear tests and ballistic-missile launches that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has carried out. Its nuclear and ballistic-missile programmes pose a grave and increasing threat not only to regional and international peace and security but also to the global non-proliferation regime. We all share a common sense of urgency about the issue, since we assume, rightly in my view, that with its tests and launches the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is advancing its military nuclear technology and capability. Such progress represents an exceptionally high threat to the international community. For that reason, Italy will continue to fully support the implementation of an effective sanctions regime as a tool aimed at producing a change of behaviour in the leadership of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We are also ready to strengthen the sanctions regime if there should be additional nuclear tests or it should prove necessary in order to enable us reach the objective of a peaceful and comprehensive solution to the issue. We firmly believe that the consistent and full implementation of the sanctions is the only way to make them effective in the framework of a comprehensive strategy for long-term peace and security. In that regard, I would like to recall the words of the Panel of Experts in February when they stated that the implementation of the sanctions regime is still insufficient and highly inconsistent, while “[a]ll Member States should reaffirm their commitment to rigorous enforcement of United Nations sanctions” (S/2017/150, annex). But the sanctions must continue to be part of a broader strategy, not an end in themselves. Such a regime requires Member States’ good-faith awareness and dedication. As Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006), Italy is committed to helping all States Members of the United Nations fully implement the relevant Security Council resolutions, particularly resolutions 2270 (2016) and 2321 (2016). To that end, we held an open briefing in February, and beginning in March, in cooperation with the Panel of Experts, we have been holding a set of outreach meetings with United Nations regional groups, two of which — with the Groups of Latin American and Caribbean and Eastern European States — have already taken place. The meeting with the Group of African States will be held on 1 May, while those with the Groups of Western European and other and Asia-Pacific States will take place by the end of May. As Secretary Tillerson said, our collective actions are not aimed at the people of North Korea but rather at a regime that should put the interests and well-being of its people above any considerations of military power. The Council’s resolutions are clear in that regard, and as Chair of the Sanctions Committee, we take great care to avoid any unintended consequences for the civilian population of the country. Italy reaffirms the goal of achieving a diplomatic solution to North Korea’s threats involving weapons of mass destruction. We firmly believe that while the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea blatantly disregards its international obligations with its nuclear and missile programmes, they do not serve its own security goals. On the contrary, we believe it could meet its security needs much more effectively by abiding by its international obligations under the relevant Security Council resolutions and its commitments under the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks of September 2005. Furthermore, at this time, a few weeks from the commencement of the next review cycle of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Italy reiterates its demand that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea return to compliance with the NPT and the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. Lastly, I would like to underline that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s illegal nuclear and missile programmes represent a deplorable diversion of crucial resources that should be devoted to the primary needs of its people. By immediately ending its nuclear and ballistic-missile programmes, we believe that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea would create the conditions for its reintegration into the international community and opportunities to improve its economy and its people’s standard of living.

North Korea’s advancing nuclear and ballistic-missile programmes represent the most urgent nuclear-proliferation challenge of our time, and I therefore thank the United States presidency and you personally, Sir, for convening today’s ministerial meeting on a very topical issue. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his useful update. Ukraine continues to condemn in the strongest terms Pyongyang’s persistent illegal activities in its efforts to develop nuclear-missile capabilities, in gross violation of its international obligations. They have already seriously undermined the non-proliferation regime as a whole. Despite immense political and diplomatic efforts, the nuclear threat to the region is growing. Regrettably, we have seen no signs that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea intends to change its behaviour. What we have seen is the alarming persistence, not to say ever-growing obsessiveness, of the North Korean leadership. As a result, the whole world faces the gloomy prospect of a large-scale military confrontation, with unpredictable consequences. We all agree that the existing challenges related to the nuclear and missile ambitions of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should be addressed collectively, decisively and without any further delay. Apparently, the existing sanctions regime is not effective enough to prevent the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from acquiring technologies, materials, equipment and financial resources for the further development of its nuclear and missile programmes. Sadly, we are witnessing a steady evolution of North Korean tricks to evade sanctions. It has been proven many times, most recently by the pictures of a military parade in Pyongyang, with a whole range of new weaponry that had never been seen before. We all know that the North Korean regime continues to build up its military arsenal at the expense of its own people. The impact of diverting resources has already produced a downward spiral in the steady deterioration of the quality of life for ordinary citizens. But does the regime care? Absolutely not. Ukraine’s stance in this regard has been consistent. The Council should find ways to increase international pressure on the North Korean regime to respond to its reckless, unabated behaviour. We believe that only robust steps by the Council can put an end to the systematic and brutal violations of international law and eradicate the growing nuclear threat in South-East Asia. We must not allow Pyongyang to continue discrediting the role of the Security Council in the context of global non-proliferation efforts. What could be the ways to effectively curb the North Korean nuclear threat? You clearly outlined them, Sir, in your own statement. First, undoubtedly, unconditional and faithful compliance with the Security Council’s resolutions is a key prerequisite to lowering the level of the threat in the region and to preventing new provocations. Yet, the Council may have to take additional, robust measures with a view to compelling the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to abandon its prohibited activities. That includies the development of nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles and other types of weapons of mass destruction. We need to use every tool and avenue at the disposal of Council members to contribute to de-escalating the current highly volatile situation. Secondly, we fully recognize the necessity of further fostering neighbouring States’ defence capabilities against this threat. In this regard, I wish to reiterate that Ukraine stands firmly by the side of Japan, the Republic of Korea and other countries that are facing the growing nuclear threat. Thirdly, it is high time to consider what we can do to prevent any nuclear threat in the future in any part of the globe. Are we able to assess the whole range of real challenges to the non-proliferation regime in order to avoid disaster in the future? The forthcoming review cycle of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons will be a suitable platform to that end. In this regard, I need to underscore the following. Disrespect for international law and attempts to undermine or change the established world order are becoming more systematic nowadays. North Korean actions are a testament to this trend, but not the only one. The erosion of the existing system of international security, continuous breaches and unaddressed violations of international law pose a significant threat to all humankind. It is therefore the ultimate responsibility of the Security Council to spare no effort to restore respect for those norms, ensure the fulfillment of international commitments and obligations, and prevent further violations. As a country that voluntarily renounced its own nuclear arsenal and has strictly abided by its obligations related to the non-proliferation of nuclear materials, technologies and their means of delivery, we are convinced that a world without nuclear weapons should remain a real policy goal for all concerned parties and not a theoretical concept that is sneered at by some. If nuclear Powers are serious about nuclear non-proliferation and eventual disarmament, they could strengthen the global non-proliferation regime immensely by making nuclear disarmament a success story. Based on Ukraine’s experience of confronting aggression from a nuclear State, this aspect is of particular importance to my country. The brutal violation of international obligations, including under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, by a permanent member of the Council that put its signature to the assurances of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, contravenes the whole United Nations- based security system created after the Second World War. The international community has a collective responsibility to restore respect for international law and to find lasting solutions to the most urgent threats to global peace and security. The North Korea issue is a test case for all of us today. Our success in resolving it may open ways to address other pressing problems on the world stage.

I would like to first thank Mr. Rex Tillerson, Secretary of State of the United States, for presiding over this briefing and to Secretary-General António Guterres for his comments. We are thankful to the presidency of the Security Council for having organized this open briefing, which is of particular importance at a moment when tensions in the Korean peninsula have risen to unprecedented levels. I recall that, last year, my delegation requested on more than one occasion the convening of an open meeting of the Security Council to address this matter, on the understanding that such a meeting could contribute in some way to enhance the way the Organization deals with this particular item. I am pleased to note that, several months later, the Council is finally addressing the situation in an open meeting. Uruguay is a non-nuclear-weapon State. It is a member of the first nuclear weapon-free zone, established by the Treaty of Tlatelolco, and an adherent to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. It is therefore strongly committed strengthening the ruling of disarmament and non-proliferation regime and consistently advocates for a world free of nuclear weapons. Uruguay’s foreign policy hinges on the essential principles of international law, including the prohibition of the use of the force in international relations and recourse to peaceful means to settle disputes. The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons constitutes a crime against humanity and a serious violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as of the Charter of the United Nations. The only guarantee against the use or threat of the use of these weapons is their explicit prohibition and total elimination. Uruguay has expressed its firm condemnation of the nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and will continue to do so if the North Korean regime continues to challenge and ignore the prescriptions of the Security Council by persisting in its nuclear and ballistic missiles programme. The actions of that country not only heighten tensions in the Korean peninsula, but also constitute a violation of international law and the resolutions of the Security Council and a serious threat to international peace and security. Uruguay therefore urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to abandon its existing nuclear programmes completely, verifiably and irreversibly and immediately to end all related activities, including launches using ballistic missile technoloy and other acts of provocation. We also urge that country to return to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the safeguards regime of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Uruguay has maintained a position on this issue that supports all initiatives favouring dialogue. It therefore believes that efforts to relaunch talks in the Korean peninsula should be intensified, generating confidence between the parties so as to return the North Korean Government to the negotiation table and undertake serious denuclearization negotiations. In times of high tension, it is necessary to remain calm, avoid unilateral actions and focus on the solution of the problem. In that connection, I recall paragraphs 47 and 48 of resolution 2321 (2016), adopted by the Security Council in November, wherein the Council reaffirms its support for the Six-Party Talks, calls for their resumption, and refers to the objective of the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in a peaceful manner. We also reiterate the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and in North-East Asia as a whole, and of reducing tensions in the Korean peninsula and outside of it. Uruguay has insisted on the urgent need to break the vicious cycle of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea violating resolutions of the Security Council, which in turn imposes sanctions, issues communiqués and reiterates that it is the responsibility of powerful States to open avenues for negotiation to resolve the situation. Uruguay is of the view that only dialogue, negotiation and political engagement can resolve the North Korean matter. In that regard, my country reaffirms its readiness to continue working within the Security Council in order to reach a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution that will result in the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

I would like to thank the United States presidency of the Security Council for having taken the initiative of convening this important meeting. I extend a warm welcome to the Secretary of State of the United States, Mr. Rex Tillerson, and to the Secretary-General. I have the honour of delivering a statement from the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Mr. Jean-Marc Ayrault, who was held up at a conference in Europe and could not be here with us today in New York. “France is particularly concerned over North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme, which fuels the greatly heightened tensions in the Korean peninsula and constitutes one of the primary threats to international peace and security today. Methodically pursuing that path  — initiated at highest level of power — over the course of several years with a view to obtaining an operational nuclear arsenal, North Korea has flouted all of the Council’s prohibitions and ignored the repeated demands of the entire international community to desist from doing so. “We are seeing the constant and rapid advancement of North Korea’s proliferation programmes, which is bringing it ever closer to reaching operational capacity. That situation is unacceptable. France has systematically and firmly condemned each act carried out and has called on North Korea to abandon its attempts to develop a nuclear weapon. We once again make that appeal. This headlong rush forward cannot continue. It feeds a dangerous and provocative downward spiral and is an ongoing threat to the non-proliferation regime. That is why we must react to all such activities and recall the norm of the non-proliferation regime in order to avoid sending a message of impunity to States that would be tempted to follow the same irresponsible and provocative strategy. “We are also concerned about the re-emergence of chemical weapons in the region, the 13 February attack in Malaysia should alert us to a global context of chemical weapons resurfacing and to Syria’s continuous and repeated violations of the ban on the use of such weapons. Let us be clear  — the goal of North Korea is to become a nuclear-weapon State and to shake up strategic balances in the Far East and the entire world by directly threatening the security of all. Tomorrow, all countries could be in range of North Korean missiles. We must all be cognizant of the urgency of the situation. We must meet our responsibilities as members of the Security Council and show our determination to combatting those unjustifiable acts. “We also recall that the development of nuclear and ballistic programmes is being carried out at the expense of the people of North Korea, who are victims of grave violations of human rights and 70 per cent of whom suffer from food insecurity. Those systematic and severe violations are the expression of utter totalitarianism, where the arbitrary use of power prevails systematically over the rule of law. The world cannot remain complacent with regard to that situation, which flies in the face of everything we have patiently worked to build, especially here at the United Nations. Confronted with such a challenge, the commitment of the international community and the Security Council must be firm, clear and visible. Our objective must be the total denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. “The Council has taken bold action in response to the irresponsible actions of Pyongyang by condemning nuclear tests and ballistic missile tests, and it has imposed an extensive and coherent sanctions regime. Those measures have been bolstered following each nuclear test and, on two occasions in 2016, resulted in resolutions 2270 (2016) and 2321 (2016). France, which contributed to their adoption, welcomed those resolutions. As with the case of Iran, the sanctions are certainly not a goal in and of themselves, but rather one of the means to make North Korea see reason and accept the denuclearization of the peninsula. “However, we regret the uneven implementation of those sanctions, which significantly undermines the effectiveness of the actions of the international community. France calls on all States without exception to ensure the rigorous and unconditional implementation of Council decisions by all actors, pursuant to the Charter of the United Nations. I am well aware of the technical and practical obstacles to their implementation, and it is up to the Council to continue to provide assistance in that regard to countries to countries that need it. “In the face of North Korea’s persistent proliferation efforts and the growing danger it poses to peace and security, our position must be resolute and clear. If Pyongyang continues its provocations, the international community and the Security Council must be ready to adopt new measures. North Korea must be aware that the pursuit of its nuclear programme and the carrying out of additional tests will be met with strong action, namely through the imposition of new sanctions, while its citizens continue to be victims of its leaders. “But our action cannot be merely reactionary. We must be proactive and act urgently before North Korea obtains an operational nuclear weapon. The international community must jointly and immediately coordinate efforts to bring greater diplomatic and economic pressure to bear upon North Korea in order for it to abandon its proliferation activities.The resumption of talks in order to reach a negotiated solution is also important, but requires that North Korea first make a good will commitment to them and abandon its nuclear objectives. “France, as a permanent member of the Security Council and the European Union, is fully committed to ensuring that the United Nations and Europe respond appropriately to this unacceptable threat to international peace and security.”

Bolivia thanks the presidency of the Security Council for having convened this meeting. We also wish to thank Secretary-General António Guterres for his briefing. Bolivia wishes to stress the primary purpose of the Charter of the United Nations to act jointly and effectively to prevent and eliminate threats or breaches of peace, to suppress acts of aggression and to settle disputes peacefully and in line with the principles of justice and international law. The Plurinational State of Bolivia, in keeping with its political constitution, affirms its peaceful vocation and rejects all acts of aggression as means to settle disputes and conflicts among peoples and States. In that regard, the Government of President Evo Morales has created a policy of rejecting all confrontation, armed or otherwise. In order to avoid armed confrontation, we think it is essential to advance towards the priority objective of global nuclear disarmament. Latin America and the Caribbean, my region, became a nuclear-weapon-free zone after the signing of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean 50 years ago, thereby becoming the first nuclear- weapon-free zone. In that respect, and following the same line of thought on non-proliferation, we reiterate our strongest rejection and condemnation of the launching of ballistic missiles and the carrying out of nuclear tests by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the most recent of which took place on 15 April. This attitude represents a threat to international peace and security, and we therefore call for unity on the part of the Security Council in addressing this situation. Compliance with the resolutions of the Council is crucial in order to meet this objective. Likewise, we would recall that sanctions are not an end in themselves but, rather, a means of achieving an objective. As recalled at the recent meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77, Bolivia also rejects unilateral sanctions in this case, as in others, and for that reason believes that the Council, through multilateral mechanisms, must take the necessary action. In recent weeks, the world has witnessed escalating tensions owing both to the tests carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and to the military deployment of the United States. The current situation can be considered as posing the greatest threat of nuclear war in this century. We urge all parties involved to avoid any escalation of rhetoric or actions that would increase tensions and endanger international peace and security, especially on the Korean peninsula. In that respect, we support China’s proposal of a simultaneous halt aimed at defusing the crisis in the Korean peninsula. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must abandon its nuclear-test and ballistic- missile programmes, and the United States must refrain from carrying out military exercises in the region. The parties involved must resume negotiations, keeping in mind that the Six-Party Talks represent the most appropriate forum to that end. It is also crucial that the countries of the region take part in the negotiations in a positive spirit that would make it possible to ease current tensions. The only solution to this conflict is a political solution. We must rule out once and for all any military alternative. In the current high-tension situation, reason must prevail, and we must refrain from taking any stance that could lead to provocations or misunderstandings. Priority must be attached to respect for the dignity and equality of peoples as well as to the lives of the inhabitants of our planet. War is a failure of the Council. War is a failure of policy. War is a failure of diplomacy. We have the internationally recognized obligation to negotiate. I reiterate: we have the internationally recognized obligation to negotiate. We must eschew belligerent lines of thought and approaches, because once we have unleashed the demons of war, the only ones who benefit are those who profit from it.

Allow me at the outset to thank the Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, for his valuable briefing before the Council today and especially for his vision, which takes into consideration in a balanced manner all the dimensions of the issue under discussion today. The current situation on the Korean peninsula poses a major challenge to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) regime. Egypt is deeply concerned at the increasing tensions following recent developments, which have become one of the gravest threats to international peace and security. Egypt reiterates its full support for all efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful solution to the crisis involving the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear programme and at achieving sustainable peace on the Korean peninsula, including all reunification efforts. Given the unique historical ties between Egypt and the peoples of North-East Asia, Egypt calls once again on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to comply fully with all of its international commitments, under the relevant Security Council resolutions, to abandon its nuclear-weapons programme and to rejoin the Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear State, without delays or preconditions. Egypt is committed to taking every step necessary at the national level to implement all Security Council sanctions related to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Egypt calls on the international community and the Security Council to address all challenges to the NPT comprehensively and without selectivity or double standards. This is vital if we are to preserve the credibility and effectiveness of the non-proliferation regime and the relevant Council resolutions, including resolution 687 (1991), especially in the light of the continued erosion of the credibility of the regime, which is the cornerstone of the wider international security architecture. The continued erosion of the NPT’s credibility and effectiveness became clear when a certain number of States decided, with no clear justification, to prevent the NPT review process from achieving any objective results by breaking the consensus reached by the majority of State parties. This was done in the service of political agendas that run counter to State party obligations under the NPT and to the unified message that we should all send, namely, that the international community is committed to achieving the universality of the Treaty and to dealing with all nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament challenges in a comprehensive and balanced manner, without any selectivity. In closing, we encourage all parties to exercise self-restraint and to resume talks to reach a peaceful settlement as soon as possible. In this regard, we call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to respond to the calls made for the resumption of the talks and to cease any activities that might lead to further tension or escalation. We also urge all other international stakeholders to create the conditions necessary for an agreed settlement that would ensure regional and international peace and security in a manner consistent with the goals and principles of the United Nations and the NPT. Egypt stands ready to make every possible effort to support such a peaceful settlement to the crisis and to maintain peace and security in the region and beyond.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Republic of Korea.

Let me join others in thanking Secretary Tillerson for having convened this very timely meeting and Secretary- General Guterres for his comprehensive briefing. This ministerial meeting of the Security Council, the first ever on the denuclearization of North Korea, demonstrates the sense of gravity and urgency shared by all members of the international community. North Korea is now at the final stage of nuclear weaponization and claims to be a nuclear-weapon State, as it has declared in its amended Constitution. Since the first North Korean nuclear crisis, a quarter- century ago, North Korea has made huge advances in all areas of its nuclear-weapons and missile programmes through five nuclear tests and numerous missile launches. We have witnessed, first, exponential growth in its nuclear stockpile  — from what used to be a few kilograms of plutonium, back in 1992, to a significant nuclear arsenal now. Secondly, we have seen rapid development of ballistic missiles of all types and ranges, which now threaten to reach every corner of the world. And, finally, we have witnessed its willingness to actually use weapons of mass destruction (WMD), as manifested in the assassination of the North Korean leader’s half-brother with a chemical weapon. In brief, North Korea’s WMD capability, coupled with the intent to actually use them, bring us ever so closer to the tipping point. It is no wonder that some experts say the world is facing its greatest nuclear emergency since the Cuban missile crisis. A nuclear-armed North Korea will significantly disrupt the security landscape in North-East Asia and in the world. It will also deal a fatal blow to the global regime based on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and increase the risk of North Korean nuclear material or related technology falling into the hands of terrorists. In order to avoid that nightmarish scenario, we must act now. We are racing against time. What should our response be? Extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary responses. A pundit once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. What we need is a new approach led by the Security Council, not allowing North Korea to dictate the agenda and timeline. Resolutions 2270 (2016) and 2321 (2016) are milestone measures that illustrate such a new approach. Based on those most comprehensive and robust resolutions, the international community has built and solidified a united front against North Korea over the past year. For its part, my Government also took a series of unilateral measures in line with the Council’s efforts. We are seeing evidence that sanctions are biting, by cutting off North Korea’s hard- currency income, deepening Pyongyang’s diplomatic isolation and blocking its illicit activities on all fronts. The international community must sustain efforts to thoroughly implement those resolutions. Moreover, the Security Council must discuss additional punitive measures to take against future provocations —proactively, not reactively, as was the case up until now. The Council has repeatedly warned that it will take further significant measures, including sanctions, in the case of future provocations. But Pyongyang may still harbour the illusion that the Security Council will take only limited action and that it can disregard and ridicule the authority of the United Nations. In order to change such strategic calculus by Pyongyang and induce changes from within, we could take potent measures such as halting the export and supply of crude oil to North Korea; completely cutting off North Korea’s hard-currency earnings by, for instance, suspending all imports of coal from North Korea; and seriously considering whether North Korea, a serial offender, is qualified as a Member of the United Nations, as well as downgrading diplomatic relations with North Korea. Let me be clear: our goal is not to bring North Korea to its knees, but to bring it back to the negotiating table for genuine denuclearization. We must be clear- eyed about Pyongyang’s intent. It is not interested in negotiating for denuclearization. Instead, its game plan is to be recognized as a nuclear-weapon State and to negotiate nuclear disarmament as such. Just last week, the North Korean Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations himself made clear that any denuclearization talks were a non-starter. Under those circumstances, dialogue for the sake of dialogue cannot be an option. If history teaches us anything, it is that we must not repeat the tried-and- failed approach. Over the past 20 or so years, we have left no stone unturned. Yet countless negotiations and agreements with this rule-breaker par excellence have led us nowhere but back to square one due to North Korea’s reneging and deception. They have only bought time for the regime to advance its WMD capabilities. We must once and for all break this vicious cycle of provocations-negotiations-provocations and rewarding North Korea’s bad behaviour. Our goal is not to compromise on half-measures for a bogus peace. Our goal is the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of the North Korean nuclear weapons and missile programmes. Finally, in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue, we must not lose sight of another serious threat, emanating from North Korea’s chemical and biological weapons programmes. Resolution 2270 (2016) decided that North Korea shall abandon all chemical and biological weapons and weapons-related programmes. In that regard, I welcome the joint letter by Secretary- General Guterres and Director-General Üzümcü of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons calling upon North Korea to accede to the Chemical Weapons Convention. History tells us how in the first half of the twentieth century the failure to counter Nazi ambitions led to the outbreak of the Second World War. If we do not respond to North Korea’s repeated provocations in a resolute manner, we will only further fuel the appetite of the trigger-happy regime in Pyongyang. In that regard, should North Korea conduct a sixth nuclear test or launch an intercontinental ballistic missile, it will be a game-changer for all of us. That is why it is critical that this time the entire international community continue to maintain the unprecedented unified front against North Korea. This is the last opportunity to break and reverse the process. The heavy responsibility is incumbent upon all of us. With regard to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Defense battery system in my country, it is purely a defensive measure in the face of such a threat from North Korea. It is not aimed at any third country. Furthermore, the annual United States-South Korea military exercise is a defensive and transparent exercise. It cannot be on a par with North Korea’s obligations under Security Council resolutions As this is my last appearance in the Security Council, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude for the unflinching support that members of the Security Council have rendered to me and to my Government over the past four years in confronting North Korea’s nuclear and missile challenges. I assure members that the Republic of Korea will continue to be a stalwart partner in the Council’s efforts to safeguard international peace and security.

I shall now make a further statement in my capacity as Secretary of State of the United States. First, I appreciate all of the statements that have been made. I have received those statements in the constructive spirit in which I know they were offered. I also want to acknowledge the presence of a large number of Ambassadors with us today. Their presence gives strength to the importance of this issue and is a visible demonstration of the importance of this issue to the international community. I welcome their presence and appreciate their being here. As stressed repeatedly in many of the statements today, North Korea has failed to honour its commitments of the past. It has made promises that it has broken. Had this body fully enforced and stood behind the resolutions it enacted in the past, vigorously enforcing sanctions with full compliance, perhaps we would not have found ourselves confronted with the high level of tension we face today. We will not negotiate our way back to the negotiating table with North Korea. We will not reward their violations of past resolutions. We will not reward their bad behaviour with talks. We will engage in talks with North Korea only when they exhibit a good-faith commitment to abiding by Security Council resolutions and their past promises to end their nuclear programmes. That is why we must have full and complete compliance by every country with the resolutions that have been enacted by this body in the past — no relaxation in the vigorous implementation of sanctions. And we have called for those sanctions to be extended to other areas as well, on a voluntary basis, and we are calling globally for all countries to participate in exerting pressure on North Korea. That is the way you make your voice heard, through action. Any failure to take action diminishes your vote for these resolutions of the past. It diminishes your vote for future resolutions. And it devalues your seat at the Council. We must have full, complete compliance by all members of the Council. I now resume my functions as President of the Council.