S/PV.7996 Security Council

As this is the first public meeting of the Security Council for the month of July, I should like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Security Council, to pay tribute to His Excellency Mr. Sacha Sergio Llorentty Solíz, Permanent Representative of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, for his service as President of the Council for the month of June. I am sure I speak for all members of the Security Council in expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador Llorentty Solíz and his delegation for the great diplomatic skill with which they conducted the Council’s business last month. Adoption of the agenda

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. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I now give the floor to Mr. Jenča. Mr. Jenča: According to the official news agency of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and various Government sources, at approximately 9 a.m. local time on 4 July, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea launched a ballistic missile that it termed a “test fire of intercontinental ballistic rocket Hwasong-14”. The missile was launched near the Panghyon airfield in northwestern Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. According to an official Government announcement, it covered a distance of 933 kilometres during a 39-minute flight, reaching an altitude of 2,802 kilometres, before falling into the sea. According to those parameters, the missile would have a range of roughly 6,700 kilometres if launched on a more typical trajectory, making it an intercontinental ballistic missile, according to widely used definitions. Once again, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea did not send pre-launch notifications to international organizations responsible for airspace and maritime safety. The country’s official media claim that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is now “a full-fledged nuclear Power that has been possessed of the most powerful intercontinental ballistic rocket capable of hitting any part of the world, along with nuclear weapons”. This is the seventh time that the Council has met to discuss the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 2017. Including today’s meeting, five of these emergency consultations have followed the launch of ballistic missiles by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in open violation of Security Council resolutions. The Secretary-General strongly condemns the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile with intercontinental range, which constitutes yet another brazen violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions and a dangerous escalation of the situation. The country’s leadership must cease any further provocative actions and comply fully with its international obligations. The Secretary-General underlines how important it is that the international community maintain its unity in addressing this serious challenge. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must end any actions that violate Security Council resolutions and allow time for sincere dialogue to resume. All the parties must work to reopen communications, particularly through military- to-military channels, in order to reduce the risk of miscalculation or misunderstanding. Amid the escalating security situation in the region, the United Nations and its partners play a critical role in saving the lives of the most vulnerable people in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. As the Council considers its response, we again remind Member States of the importance of separating political and humanitarian concerns and urge them to support the lifesaving activities being carried out by the humanitarian organizations in the country. I would like to close by reiterating the Secretary- General’s commitment to seeking peaceful and political solutions. The United Nations will remain in close contact with all the parties concerned and is ready to assist in any way possible.

I thank Mr. Jenča for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

To my friends on the Security Council, I must say that today is a dark day, because yesterday’s actions by North Korea made the world a more dangerous place. Its illegal missile launch was not only dangerous but also reckless and irresponsible. It showed that North Korea does not want to be part of a peaceful world. It has cast a dark shadow of conflict on all nations that strive for peace. Yesterday’s act came from the same vicious dictator who sent a young college student home to his parents unresponsive and in a coma. For Americans, the true nature of the North Korean regime was painfully brought home with the images of two guards holding Otto Warmbier up as they transported him from a prison, in which he should never have been. Otto Warmbier is but one person out of the millions who have been killed, tortured or deprived of their human rights by the North Korean regime. To Americans, the death of one innocent person can be as powerful as the death of millions because all men and women are created in God’s image. Depravity towards one is a sure sign of willingness to do much more harm. The nature of the North Korean regime is clear. Only the scale of the damage that it does could become different. That is why yesterday’s escalation is so alarming. If North Korea treats an innocent young student the way it treated Otto Warmbier, we should not be surprised if it acts barbarically on a larger scale. The United States does not seek conflict. In fact, we seek to avoid it. We seek only the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and an end to the threatening actions of North Korea. Regrettably we are witnessing just the opposite. Make no mistake — North Korea’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a clear and sharp military escalation. The North Korean regime openly states that its missiles are intended to deliver nuclear weapons to strike cities in the United States, South Korea and Japan, and now it has greater capacity to do so. In truth, it is not only the United States and our allies that are threatened. North Korea’s destabilizing escalation is a threat to all nations in and beyond the region. Its actions are quickly closing off the possibility of a diplomatic solution. The United States is prepared to use the full range of its capabilities to defend itself and its allies. One of our capabilities lies with our considerable military forces. We will use them if we must, but we prefer not to have to go in that direction. We have other methods of addressing those who threaten us and of addressing those who supply the threats. We have great capabilities in the area of trade. President Trump has spoken repeatedly about that. I spoke with him at length about it this morning. There are countries that are allowing  — even encouraging — trade with North Korea in violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. Such countries would also like to continue their trade arrangements with the United States. That is not going to happen. Our attitude on trade changes when countries do not take international security threats seriously. Before the path to a peaceful solution is entirely closed, however, there remains more that the international community can and must do diplomatically and economically. In the coming days, we will bring before the Security Council a draft resolution that raises the international response in a way that is proportionate to North Korea’s new escalation. I will not detail the draft resolution here today, but the options are all known to us. If we are unified, the international community can cut off the major sources of hard currency to the North Korean regime. We can restrict the flow of oil to its military and its weapons programme. We can increase air and maritime restrictions. We can hold senior regime officials accountable. The international community has spoken frequently against the illegal and dangerous actions of the North Korean regime. For many years, there have been numerous United Nations sanctions against North Korea, but they have been insufficient to get it to change its destructive course. If we are to have an impact on and move North Korea off its military escalation, we must therefore do more. We will not look exclusively at North Korea. We will look at any country that chooses to do business with that outlaw regime. We will show no patience for stalling or talking our way down to a watered-down resolution. Yesterday’s ICBM escalation requires an escalated diplomatic and economic response. Time is short. Action is required. The world is on notice. If we act together, we can still prevent a catastrophe, and we can rid the world of a grave threat. If we fail to act in a serious way, there will be a different response. Much of the burden of enforcing United Nations sanctions rests with China; 90 per cent of trade with North Korea is from China. We will work with China. We will work with any and every country that believes in peace, but we will not repeat the inadequate approaches of the past, which have brought us to this dark day. We cannot forget the multiple missile tests of this year or yesterday’s escalation. We cannot forget Otto Warmbier and others whom North Korea continues to hold. We cannot forget the threats to our friends and allies around the world. We will not forget, and we will not delay.

I would like to begin by thanking you, Sir, for convening this urgent meeting jointly requested by the United States, the Republic of Korea and Japan. I also thank Mr. Jenča for his briefing. North Korea once again launched a ballistic missile in blatant violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. This is totally unacceptable. Japan lodged a strong protest directly against North Korea immediately following the launch and condemned the act in the strongest terms. Here I express once again our strong condemnation of this utterly unacceptable provocation. Japan demands that North Korea immediately cease all ballistic-missile and nuclear-development programmes and provocations. Japan will never accept a nuclear- armed North Korea. The North Korean official media has announced that North Korea successfully carried out the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile reached an altitude of more than 2,500 kilometres, flew for approximately 40 minutes and landed within the Japanese exclusive economic zone, approximately 300 kilometres off the Oga peninsula. A number of Japanese fishing vessels were at sea at the time of the launch. That shows how dangerous and irresponsible North Korea’s action was. If it had not been such a high-altitude launch, the missile would have flown for more than 5,500 kilometres and could have reached many other Member States’ soil. Those provocations by North Korea trample upon international efforts towards the peaceful settlement of nuclear and missile issues and present an enormous global threat. As North Korea claims that it is capable of hitting any part of the world, its threat has literally become global. The most recent provocation has made it even more evident that circumstances are not right for dialogue with North Korea at this time. No other choice for us is left other than to work together to increase the pressure on North Korea. The thorough and faithful implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions is critically important. All States Members must work together to pressure North Korea into taking concrete action leading towards denuclearization. We need to send a clear, united message that it is North Korea that needs to change, not our side. We must recall the Council’s determination to take further significant measures in the event of a further nuclear test or launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The latest launch requires a swift response from the Council in the form of a resolution with robust sanctions. Japan looks forward to working closely with Council members to that end.

Allow me to thank you, Sir, and the representatives of the United States and Japan for convening this very important meeting. I also thank Mr. Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, for his very enlightening briefing on the situation. The Security Council is once again meeting following a serious and unjustifiable violation by North Korea of its international obligations, which threatens international peace and security. With the launch of a ballistic missile two days ago, North Korea continues in its posture of an inexcusable headlong rush. It is confirming its stubborn and proclaimed determination to flout the authority of the Security Council. It continues to ignore the numerous appeals and calls to reason, which we have continuously addressed to it. Finally, it persists with an irresponsible provocative attitude, which threatens to leads us straight to an escalation. France has condemned the missile launch, just as it has condemned the numerous ballistic missile launches carried out by Pyongyang in recent months. All of North Korea’s actions fuel a dangerous and provocative spiral of regional instability and even threaten peace and international security. Today, the countries of the region are directly threatened. I reiterate France’s full solidarity with them, but let us be fully aware that everyone is now affected by this threat. It is a global threat. The systematic and determined effort, initiated at the highest level of the North Korean regime, to develop its nuclear programmes speaks for itself. This new ballistic missile launch, which follows in the wake of previous launches and nuclear tests, represents another step towards North Korea’s acquisition of an operational nuclear capacity. It is a deliberate, methodical and fully acknowledged assault on the non-proliferation regime, which is at the heart of our security system and which we cannot afford to tolerate. Let us make no mistake  — North Korea’s nuclear programme is one of the main threats to the non-proliferation regime that we have forged together, step by step, in recent decades. The non-proliferation regime itself is the backbone of international peace and security, which we are responsible for protecting. This dangerous forward push must cease immediately and without preconditions. Sanctions are never automatic or an end in themselves, but when our messages, appeals and even our warnings are deliberately, repeatedly and systematically ignored, a determined response is necessary. Negotiation is always the first choice, but the current situation does not allow for it at all. The deliberate, repeated and outright violation by whomsoever of our decisions cannot be subject to bargaining. It is up to North Korea to sincerely demonstrate, through concrete action, that it is ready to invest in a negotiated settlement. Otherwise, we will have no other choice but to respond firmly. Nuclear proliferation is essentially what is at stake. In the face of this threat, weakness and lack of action are not options. We have been brought together by a shared sense of urgency and a common determination to ensure that the authority of the Security Council is upheld. We must therefore shoulder our responsibilities together. The entire international community must pursue its efforts to ensure the effective implementation of measures already adopted, but we must also confirm our decisive commitment to putting an end to the irresponsible action of North Korea. Our goal must be complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Time is of the essence. The firm and unambiguous message conveyed through today’s meeting is an important step in this direction. France has been at the forefront of establishing a non-proliferation regime and intends to stay there. In the Security Council and in the European Union, France has always responded with determination and firmness to any attempt to undermine that regime. France has contributed to building consensus with its partners to ensure that a firm response is provided. I would like to reassure the international community that my country will continue to do so with determination. We will therefore work with all our partners for the adoption of a Security Council resolution aimed at imposing new, robust and operational measures. We will also pursue similar measures within the European Union. When the basis of our collective security is threatened, there is no room for equivocation. Given the risk that the situation could continue to deteriorate, the Council must and will assume its responsibilities.

Like the previous speakers from the United States, Japan and France, the United Kingdom condemns in the strongest terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s flagrant violation of unanimous decisions of the Security Council. Despite our repeated condemnation and successive Security Council resolutions, the leadership of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has persisted in pursuing its illegal programmes in misguided pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability. This is simply not acceptable. We have seen an unprecedented number of ballistic missile tests over the past year, including ground testing. However, with this launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, the Council should note that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea clearly intends to threaten directly an ever greater number of States and indirectly the whole world. All such ballistic missile activity by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is in violation of binding Security Council resolutions, and any capability that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea develops to threaten the security of other States is of grave concern. Our response must be strong and clear. The international community must redouble its efforts. As the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom has said, North Korea strains every nerve and sinew to build nuclear weapons and launch illegal missiles, even as the people of North Korea endure starvation and poverty. Amid reports of widespread hardship and human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Pyongyang’s priority should be the health and welfare of North Korean people, not the continuation of the nuclear programme. We continue to urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to return to credible and authentic multilateral talks on its nuclear and ballistic programmes and to abide by its obligations under Security Council resolutions. The United Kingdom has today summoned the Ambassador of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in London, conveying in the strongest terms our views of this reckless behaviour. We will also be redoubling our efforts with partners to seek strong enforcement of measures that aim to bring the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the right path. Increased vigilance is needed. We will continue to encourage partners globally to take effective action to understand and, when necessary, disrupt the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s illegal proliferation and other sanctions-evasion activity. We will also work with allies and partners around the world to consider the fullest range of measures to increase diplomatic pressure. The primary responsibility lies with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, but all members of the international community must further strengthen their resolve to enforce existing measures fully and effectively without delay. We also urge all States to comply with the Security Council’s requirements for reporting on the implementation of measures. But as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s own statements of defiance make clear, even these steps will probably not be enough. Faced with these provocations, we must toughen our resolve. The United Kingdom supports new binding measures to raise the cost further for these illegal actions. The Security Council should start work immediately on a new resolution to achieve this.

I thank Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea for asking for this meeting to be convened this afternoon. The missile test yesterday, of possible intercontinental range, illustrates the determination of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to continue the development of its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programmes. That is a cause of great concern for the region and, indeed, for the world. Sweden condemns yesterday’s test in the strongest possible terms. We once again call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to cease all development of its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programmes, and to take immediate steps towards the programme’s complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions. The continued unity of the Security Council in the face of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s blatant violations of the Council’s resolutions is of the utmost importance, as is the effective implementation of relevant Council resolutions by all countries. Implementation of the sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea remains insufficient and highly inconsistent. We reiterate that all United Nations Member States must do their utmost in that regard. There is no military solution to the situation on the Korean peninsula. There is an urgent need for redoubled efforts to build confidence, avoid further escalation and take steps to prepare for a peaceful, diplomatic and comprehensive solution to the situation on the peninsula and the wider region. All must contribute to that end, and we welcome all initiatives to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue. Tensions have risen in recent months, and the potential for mistakes, misunderstanding and miscalculation is high. A regional security mechanism should be the medium-term goal. We remain fully committed to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. We reiterate our solidarity with the neighbouring countries and their peoples, who are living under the constant shadow of the threatening behaviour of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We again call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to re-engage in a credible and meaningful dialogue with the international community. In the meantime, Sweden will stand united with Council members in condemning any action that jeopardizes international peace and security.

At the outset, I would like to thank Mr. Jenča for his technical and useful briefing. We stress once again that the current situation on the Korean peninsula remains one of the main challenges to the nuclear non-proliferation regime. Egypt expresses its great concern at the continued escalation and tension on the Korean peninsula as a result of the nuclear programme of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which represents one of the main threats to international peace and security. We call once again on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to comply fully with all its commitments, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions; to eliminate its entire nuclear arsenal; and to re-join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as a non-nuclear State without delay or preconditions. Egypt is fully committed to make every possible effort at the national level to implement all Security Council sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Egypt supports fully all efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful solution to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea nuclear programme issue and at achieving durable peace on the Korean peninsula, including all reunification efforts, especially in light of the special and historic relations between Egypt and the countries of the region. Egypt calls on the international community and the Security Council to deal in a comprehensive manner and without selectivity with all challenges facing the Non-Proliferation Treaty so as to preserve the credibility and effectiveness of the non-proliferation regime and relevant Security Council resolutions. That is especially important in therefore light of the continued erosion of the credibility of that regime, which represents the main pillar of the broader international security architecture. That erosion is the result of the non-universality of the Treaty and the double standards applied when addressing challenges thereto. In conclusion, my country encourages all parties to exercise self-restraint and to resume discussions aimed at reaching a peaceful settlement as soon as possible. We take note of some of the positive proposals made by China in order to achieve a gradual détente. In that regard, we again urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to cooperate with all efforts to promote dialogue and to cease any measures that may lead to further escalation and intention. We call on all international parties to provide the conditions necessary to reach a mutually agreed settlement that would guarantee regional and international peace and security, in line with the purposes and principles of the United Nations and the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Egypt stands ready to make every possible effort to support a peaceful settlement to this crisis in a manner that would preserve regional and international peace and security.

Italy condemns in the strongest terms the latest missile test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. This latest provocation confirms once again that the North Korean regime continues to pursue its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes in flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions, and thus in open defiance of the international community. The latest launch, having an intercontinental range, is particularly worrisome. Equally worrisome is the fact that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea claimed to have reached its objective of acquiring intercontinental ballistic missile capacity. The advancement of missile and nuclear capabilities by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is undermining our collective security. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s escalation and destabilizing activities pose a clear, serious and growing threat to international security and the global non-proliferation regime. We call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to take immediate steps to abandon its provocative, illegal and self-isolating policies, put a verifiable and irreversible stop to its missile and nuclear programmes, and embark on a different path. That objective continues to require a concerted multilateral effort by the international community to maintain the high level of pressure on the North Korean regime. In that context, Italy stands ready to work with all relevant stakeholders and members of the Council in order to devise additional and significant restrictive measures. In that endeavour, maintaining the Security Council’s unity of purpose will be crucial. We must also not forget that the civilian population of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continues to be highly vulnerable as a consequence of the regime’s policies. We must therefore ensure, as we have in the past, that new restrictive measures do not have any negative unintended consequences for the humanitarian situation in the country. The ultimate objective of the pressure must continue to be a change in behaviour of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, framing a path towards the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and the achievement of a peaceful and comprehensive diplomatic solution through dialogue. The full and effective implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions by the whole United Nations membership continues to be Italy’s priority as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006). Maintaining an open channel for dialogue with Member States, specifically through regional outreach meetings, is proving to be an effective way to engage the membership and facilitate national efforts to enforce the sanctions regime that is in place. In that respect, I wish to point out that the rate of submission of national implementation reports has steadily increased. As of today, the Committee has received 94 national implementation reports on resolution 2270 (2016) and 70 on resolution 2321 (2016). Moreover, all national reports under resolution 2321 (2016), the latest adopted, have been received in the past four months, showing a higher submission rate than under previous resolution regarding the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. While encouraging, that is still not sufficient. Let me therefore, as Chair of the 1718 Sanctions Committee, make an urgent appeal to all Member States to continue to provide the necessary attention to this urgent matter.

At the outset, I wish to thank the delegations of the United States and Japan for having called for the holding of this meeting. I thank you, Mr. President, for having agreed to convene meeting so quickly, and Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jenča for his clear and factual briefing. Mr. President, you very aptly conveyed the congratulations and gratitude of the members of the Security Council to the Plurinational State of Bolivia for its excellent and very productive presidency of the Council during the previous month. I therefore echo your words. It is telling that the first formal meeting under your presidency is devoted to yet another act of defiance of the international community and, in particular of the Security Council — specifically, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s launching of an intercontinental ballistic missile yesterday, 4 July, while we all celebrated the national holiday of the United States with our American friends. The Senegalese delegation once again most emphatically condemns the launching of the intercontinental ballistic missile that landed in the Sea of Japan. That act was undoubtedly of a new order, because the successful launching of an intercontinental ballistic missile shows that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, after having methodically pursued its nuclear arms and missile programmes, is more determined than ever to acquire a nuclear deterrent force. As Mr. Jenča stated, this launch comes after previous such acts on the part of Pyongyang that all of us in the Chamber have condemned. It is not only a threat to the people of the peninsula and the region but also greatly undermines the regime of non-proliferation, with the concomitant ambition of developing the delivery means for nuclear weapons, thereby considerably exacerbating tensions in the region and beyond. It is also a serious threat to air travel both because there was no warning of such a launch and because the region is densely populated and its airspace is one of the world’s most travelled. Once again, the credibility of the Security Council is at stake. Indeed, despite all of the sanctions and measures adopted against it, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, far from abandoning its military ambitions, has gone as far as testing the competence of the Security Council to address the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s illegal military programme. In so doing, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continues to flagrantly violated the repeated resolutions and prohibitions of the Council. What are we to do now? We have continued to call on North Korea to renounce provocations and invited it to return to the path of dialogue. Indeed, sanctions could go hand in hand with dialogue in a discrete manner, as mentioned in the various resolutions on North Korea. In conclusion, because there is no military solution to the tensions on the Korean peninsula, my country reiterates the importance of maintaining peace and security in that part of the world and calls for a comprehensive, peaceful, diplomatic and political solution. To that end, my delegation will work with the other members of the Council in drafting a resolution on the supplementary measures that must be taken.

We thank the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea for initiating the Council’s urgent briefing on the recent missile launch of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as well as the presidency for promptly convening such a meeting. I also thank Assistant-Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča for his briefing on this alarming issue. Indeed, the beginning of 2017 has already become another unprecedented period of North Korean destabilization and unlawful actions. The recent launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on 4 July contributed enormously to the growing nuclear threat in the region. Despite immense political and diplomatic efforts to halt the North Korean weapons- of-mass-destruction programmes, we have seen no sign whatsoever that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s intends to change its behaviour. The irresponsible North Korean policy has already seriously undermined the non-proliferation regime as a whole. The current developments on the Korean peninsula raise three rhetorical but essential questions. Does Pyongyang hear the signals from the Security Council? Are those signals strong and clear enough? How much time is left before a North Korean ICBM is equipped with a nuclear warhead and successfully deployed? Needless to say, the Council should use every instrument at its disposal to ensure the full implementation of its decisions. At the same time, we cannot but recognize that the existing sanctions regime appears to be inefficient in preventing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from acquiring the technologies, materials, equipment and financial resources for the further development of its nuclear programme. I wish to recall Ukraine’s previously stated position that the Council should find ways to increase international pressure on the North Korean regime to respond to its reckless behaviour, which continues unabated. We believe that only robust decisions and steps on the part of the Council can put an end to the systematic and brutal violations of international law and eliminate the growing nuclear threat on the continent. We also fully believe in the necessity of further fostering neighbouring States’ defence capabilities against that threat. We cannot wait until the next nuclear test or missile launch. Challenges related to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear and missile ambitions should be addressed collectively, decisively and without further delay. We should not allow Pyongyang to continue discrediting the role of the Security Council in the context of global non-proliferation efforts. Ukraine remains ready for constructive work with all delegations on this issue, including on a new draft resolution with more robust and operational measures, to ensure positive changes in the current situation and to move closer to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

We too thank the delegations of the United States, Japan and Korea for having called this meeting; Mr. Jenča for his briefing; and especially you, Mr. President, not only for your responsiveness in convening this meeting, but also for making this briefing open to the entire membership. This is too serious an issue for a private meeting and it is important for us to express our views before the entire membership of the Organization. Uruguay vigorously condemns the recent launch by North Korea of a ballistic missile of allegedly intercontinental range. We call once again on North Korea to fully, verifiably and irreversibly abandon its existing nuclear programmes, and to immediately put an end to all related activities, including launches using ballistic missile technology and other provocative acts. North Korea’s behaviour is a threat to international peace and security and constitutes a flagrant violation of myriad Security Council resolutions. North Korea must respect all the resolutions adopted by this body and abandon its nuclear intentions. Such a step would contribute to fostering peace on the Korean peninsula and would help to pave the way to a resumption of dialogue, with the ultimate objective of achieving denulearization. The use and threat of use of nuclear weapons constitute a crime against humanity and a serious violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as the Charter of the United Nations. The only guarantee against the use or threat of use of these weapons is their express prohibition and total elimination. While we are in the Chamber dealing with North Korea’s obstinacy in the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the membership of the United Nations is doing its utmost to be able to adopt, perhaps next Friday, a treaty to prohibit the nuclear weapons. Regrettably, neither North Korea nor the nuclear Powers and other States are participating in those negotiations. The objective of achieving a more secure world, free of the lethal effects of nuclear weapons, should be seen as the goal and responsibility to be born equally by all those gathered in this Chamber today to guarantee the safety and survival of humankind. North Korea’s ongoing defiance and a lack of concrete action on the part of the Security Council and the concerned parties to reach a peaceful solution to this situation simply raise tensions on the Korean peninsula and might inflame the situation further, with serious consequences. In order to make headway, Uruguay understands that the sanctions regime must be fully and properly implemented by all Member States. Uruguay underscores the need to develop new options for action, try new approaches and ways of negotiating to untangle this situation, which gets worse and worse with each passing month. The Security Council must find an appropriate response to put an end to the endless round of provocations and violations by North Korea and to usher in a resumption of dialogue for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. We reiterate our call for dialogue, as we see no viable solution to the North Korean question other than that of face-to-face negotiation and the shared political commitment of the parties. Uruguay urges the members of the Security Council to come together as one on this issue and to maintain their commitment to find a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution aimed at the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. In times of great tension, we must remain calm, avoid unilateral actions and focus on finding a solution to the problem.

We thank Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča for his briefing on the launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of a ballistic missile. The situation requires thorough clarification and investigation. The ballistic trajectory of the missile was confirmed and registered on the Russian rocket-launch warning system. According to information from the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, based on an objective and technology-based monitoring of the situation, it has been established that the parameters and data regarding the target of the missile were in line with the tactical criteria of mid-range ballistic missiles. We are carefully following the development of the situation on the Korean peninsula and call the Council’s attention to the joint Russian and Chinese statement about this issue issued in Moscow on 4 July, immediately following the rocket launch. We consider this action by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to be inadmissible and to run counter to relevant Security Council resolutions. Russia and China have firmly urged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to strictly comply with the provisions of said resolutions. We share the serious concern regarding the evolving situation on and around the Korean peninsula. The escalation of military and political tensions in the region, which is fraught with the risk of an armed conflict, requires the international community to take collective measures for a peaceful settlement of the situation through dialogue and consultation. We reject any statement or action that could lead to an escalation and hardening of antagonisms, and call on all interested States to act with restraint, avoid provocation and warmongering, demonstrate readiness to engage in dialogue without preconditions, and make active efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions. The Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China have established a joint initiative, based on the Chinese proposal of a dual-track approach of promoting parallel progress in denuclearization efforts and a suspension-for-suspension approach to establish a peace mechanism on the peninsula, as well as the Russian phased plan to settle the Korean issue. We call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to voluntarily declare a moratorium on the testing of nuclear explosive devices and ballistic missiles. At the same time, the United States and the Republic of Korea should suspend their large-scale joint military training exercises. In parallel, the sides could hold talks and establish general principles for relations, including the non-use of force, the rejection of aggression, peaceful coexistence and steps towards the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula with a view to a comprehensive settlement of all problems, including the missile and nuclear issues. All interested parties in the negotiations process could, through their chosen format, address the peace and security mechanisms of the Korean peninsuka and North-East Asia, leading to the normalization of relations between relevant States. I call upon all States to support such an initiative, which would offer a true window of opportunity to resolve the issues on the Korean peninsula. We reaffirm our strong commitment to the international non-proliferation regime and our intention to see the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and the comprehensive and full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions. We express our intention, together with other interested States, to pursue efforts to ensure that, through dialogue and consultations, all existing concerns are addressed in a balanced way. We call on all sides to comply strictly with the obligations set forth in the joint statement of 19 September 2005 and to swiftly resume dialogue with a view to achieving a comprehensive settlement to the issue of the Korean peninsula. The option of resorting to military measures to resolve the problem on the Korean peninsula should be excluded. We express our support for the northern and southern sides on the Korean peninsula to engage in dialogue and consultations, demonstrate good will towards one another, improve relations, engage in cooperation towards a peaceful solution and play their due and responsible roles in de-escalating the situation on the Korean peninsula and resolving their pending problems. We recognize the importance of ensuring international and regional balance and stability. We stress that alliances between certain States should never be established to the detriment of the interests of third parties. We oppose the military presence of extra-regional forces in North-East Asia and their deployment on the pretext of countering the military and missile programmes of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in North-East Asia is a serious blow to the interests of the strategic security of States of the region, including Russia and China, and does not serve the goal of denuclearizing the Korean peninsula or ensure peace and stability in the region on the basis of indivisible security. We oppose the deployment of such systems and call on the relevant sides to swiftly halt and cancel the deployment process. All necessary measures should be taken to protect the security interests of the two countries, as well as to strike a strategic balance in the region. It is perfectly clear to us that any attempt to justify a military solution is inadmissable and could have unpredictable consequences for the region. Attempts to strangle North Korea economically are equally unacceptable, since millions of its people are in great need of humanitarian assistance. The United Nations has a role to play in that regard. Humanitarian efforts must be depoliticized. In summary, we must all acknowledge that sanctions will not resolve the issue but merely expedite a stalemate. Any attempt to resolve the situation by force would be equally inadmissible. We must take the security concerns of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea into account. It is important now to set aside the dangerous logic of confrontation and to seek together a settlement based on a comprehensive political solution to the problems of the Korean peninsula, including the issue of North Korea’s missile and nuclear programmes. In that regard, we believe that China’s proposal for mutual suspension and parallel progress, as well as the Russian road map for a Korean settlement — including the gradual establishment of a peace mechanism for North-East Asia, leading to the denuclearization of the peninsula — are appropriate starting points for such talks. We call on all to participate in that work.

We would like to thank the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Mr. Miroslav Jenča, for the information he shared with us in connection with the latest developments that prompted the convening of this afternoon’s emergency meeting. Bolivia once again expresses its strongest and most energetic condemnation of the conduct of nuclear tests and the launching of ballistic missiles by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, such as the launch carried out yesterday, 4 July. Accordingly, we call on that country to abandon its nuclear and ballistic- missile programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible way. We urge all parties involved to refrain from escalating rhetoric and actions that increase tensions and jeopardize international peace and security, especially in the Korean peninsula. In particular, we urge all parties to refrain from any act of provocation, any unilateral action and any action taken outside international law and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We hail and reiterate our support for initiatives of the dual-suspension type, which would allow for a simultaneous cessation of both the launch of ballistic missiles and nuclear tests, on the one hand, and the conduct of military exercises on the Korean peninsula, on the other. Finally, we call on all parties involved to exclude any military alternative or threatened use of force and to resume dialogue to achieve a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution, resulting in the denuclearization of the Korea peninsula.

We would also like to thank the delegations of the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea for convening today’s meeting. I would also like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his briefing. We join others in strongly condemning the latest launch of an international intercontinental ballistic missile by the Democratic Republic of Korea in violation of various Security Council resolutions. We concur with the Secretary-General that this constitutes “a dangerous escalation of the situation”, which threatens regional peace and security in the Korean peninsula. It is absolutely essential that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea cease its provocative actions in order to reduce the tension in the Korean peninsula and prevent the further escalation of the situation. We would like to once again underscore the need for finding lasting comprehensive political and diplomatic solutions through dialogue and negotiation. This requires that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea return to its international commitments on denuclearization and fully comply with relevant resolutions of the Security Council. It is important that we maintain the unity of the Council and speak with one voice in addressing this issue, which is becoming extremely dangerous. One thing makes us not lose hope: while there might be differences as to methods and approaches, there are in fact no differences in terms of the substance of denuclearizing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. This cannot be stated enough. Finally, the latest launch of a ballistic missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a reminder to all of us that the full implementation of the Council’s resolutions by all Members State is much more critical now than ever before. I would like to reaffirm the commitment of Ethiopia to continuing to work towards the full implementation of these Security Council resolutions.

First of all, let me thank Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča for his briefing, as well as the United States and Japan for calling for consultations on yet another flagrant violation by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Kazakhstan strongly condemns North Korea’s irresponsible and dangerous launch of a ballistic missile with a possible intercontinental range, which undermines our common international efforts to strengthen regional and ultimately international peace and security. Today once again, we see how the North Korean regime continues developing its nuclear-missile potential and we observe its steady progress in this direction, which, of course, causes serious concern. The expansion of the nuclear Powers club is totally unacceptable for the wider international community. Therefore, Pyongyang must pursue a contrary approach to the stance it is taking. It is our urgent and common task to make North Korea comply with international will. All Council members are united in comprehending the full seriousness and complexity of the situation in North Korea. Let us use this unity to develop a comprehensive and balanced approach in order to create conditions for non-military solutions while maintaining the sanctions regime and forcing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to come to dialogue. In this regard, Kazakhstan once again calls upon North Korea to follow its positive example of willingly abandoning nuclear tests and weapons to live in peace and harmony with the entire world. We stand ready to share our role and experience in this area with Pyongyang if needed. In conclusion, Kazakhstan is ready to support any initiative leading to a diplomatic and peaceful solution to the crisis on the Korean peninsula.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as representative of China. I would like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his briefing. The Security Council resolutions regarding this issue contain explicit provisions forbidding any launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea using ballistic-missile technology. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile on 4 July was a flagrant violation of the relevant Council resolutions and defied the will of the entire international community. China finds it unacceptable and strongly urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to abide strictly by the decisions of the Security Council and to put a stop to any rhetoric or action that might further exacerbate tensions on the peninsula. At the same time, we call on all the parties concerned to exercise restraint, avoid provocative actions or belligerent rhetoric, demonstrate a desire for dialogue without conditions and work actively together to defuse the tension. On 4 July, the Heads of State of China and Russia exchanged views on the situation on the Korean peninsula and agreed that the nuclear issue there should be resolved through dialogue and consultation. Our Foreign Ministries issued a joint statement expressing China and Russia’s shared position and concern regarding the issue of the Korean peninsula. The statement laid out our two countries’ joint initiative, based on China’s two-track approach, and a suspension-for-suspension proposal under Russia’s step-by-step plan. The current situation on the peninsula is complex and sensitive, and the dialogue process is at a standstill. China and Russia’s joint initiative is aimed at addressing both the symptoms and the root causes and at taking integrated measures to strive for a solution. It is objective, fair, reasonable and feasible. We hope that it will have the support of the international community and help to open a realistic route to resolving the problem of the Korean peninsula. China has always insisted on the importance of achieving the denuclearization of the peninsula, maintaining peace and stability there and seeking a solution through dialogue and consultation. We have always been firmly opposed to chaos and conflict in the region, and military means should not be considered an option in that regard. The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in North-East Asia seriously undermines the strategic security of the countries of the region, including China. As such, it is not conducive to denuclearizing the peninsula or achieving regional peace and stability. China urges the countries concerned to cancel its deployment immediately. The denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and the achievement of lasting peace and stability there are in the interests of all. We hope that the parties concerned will work together with China and duly play their roles and shoulder their responsibilities, with a view to getting the Korean peninsula issue back on the track of peaceful dialogue as soon as possible. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. I give the floor to the representative of the Republic of Korea.

At the outset, I would like to thank the Chinese presidency for convening today’s emergency meeting. My delegation is grateful for the opportunity to participate in addressing the serious and urgent issue of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile of intercontinental-class range on 3 July. It is deeply regrettable that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has responded with yet another and even more serious provocation to the repeated messages from the new Government in Seoul, under the leadership of President Moon Jae-in, emphasizing the importance of resolving the issue peacefully and expressing its willingness to engage in dialogue under the right circumstances. It is also a source of profound disappointment to us that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has once again chosen the wrong path by test-firing another long-range ballistic missile just a few days after the 30 June summit meeting in Washington, D.C., between the Republic of Korea and the United States, in which the two leaders called on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to refrain from provocative, destabilizing actions and rhetoric, and to make a strategic choice to fulfil its international obligations and commitments. The Republic of Korea condemns in the strongest terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s latest provocation as a flagrant violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. We urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to cease testing the unwavering resolve of both the Government of the Republic of Korea and the international community to achieve denuclearization on the Korean peninsula. Its repeated provocations, in defiance of multiple Security Council resolutions, will only strengthen the international community’s resolve and be met with a firmer response. Pyongyang must realize that its obsessive pursuit of nuclear and missile programmes, and its continued provocations, will serve only to worsen its diplomatic isolation and deepen its economic plight. Given the urgency and gravity of the issue, we, the international community, must once again demonstrate our strong resolve not to tolerate the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear and ballistic-missile programmes, which have become a global threat requiring global action. In that regard, I recall the Security Council’s previously expressed determination to take further significant measures in the event of a further nuclear test or missile launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We must indeed take stronger measures, which should include a new sanctions resolution, to stop the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s provocations. At the same time, the effectiveness of swift, full and thorough implementation of the current sanctions resolutions cannot be overemphasized in the quest to bring the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea back to credible denuclearization negotiations. This is the last opportunity for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to chart a new beginning in inter-Korean relations and in its relations with the international community. It must renounce its nuclear brinkmanship and step back from the point of no return. Pyongyang should awaken from its delusion that nuclear and ballistic-missile development can ensure its security, and instead resolve to choose a path to denuclearization.

I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make further statements.

I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for making this a public meeting and enabling all of us to voice our concerns. I would first like to tell my Russian friends that not only has the Secretary-General said that the launch was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), and the United States has said it was an ICBM, North Korea itself has said that it was an ICBM. If Russia is in need of any intelligence showing that the rest of the world sees it as an ICBM, I am happy to provide it. Secondly, with regard to being opposed to sanctions on North Korea, the entire Security Council knows that we have repeatedly adopted resolutions after which nothing has happened. If members are happy with North Korea’s actions, they should veto those sanctions. If they want to be North Korea’s friend, they should veto it. But if they see this as a threat and for what it is — North Korea showing its muscle — they should stand strong and vote with the international community to strengthen sanctions on North Korea. If they choose not to, we will go our own path. But it makes no sense not to join together on this threat from North Korea. That country has had no care for Russia or China in this. It has not listened to anything that they have said, and it is not going to listen to anything that they say. So it is time that we all stood together and said that we will not put up with this action. Anyone who sits there and opposes sanctions, or goes in defiance of a new resolution, is holding the hands of Kim Jong-un.

I would like to thank my American colleague Ambassador Haley for her comments. We too propose that we work together. The point of my statement was that we can see a meaningful way out of the situation on the Korean peninsula only by combining regional and international forces. It is clearly stated in the relevant resolutions that it is not through sanctions alone but, above all, through political efforts that we can find a way out. That is the task we have ahead of us. History has shown us that sanctions are not a panacea. We should therefore seek a political solution and take the path of creative diplomacy. And as I said in my statement, we propose to work collectively to do that.