S/PV.9030 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Japan and 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. Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I give the floor to Mr. Khiari. Mr. Khiari: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has intensified the pace of its launches using ballistic missile technology. Indeed, it has launched more missiles in the past five months than in the prior two years combined. On 4 May, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea launched a missile using ballistic missile technology that covered a range of 470 kilometres and reached an apogee of 780 kilometres. It was launched from the Sunan, area near Pyongyang. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea launched a ballistic missile of possible intercontinental range from the same location on 24 March. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea launched another missile on 7 May, possibly from a submarine, which reportedly covered a range of 600 kilometres and reached an apogee of 60 kilometres. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea did not issue public information on either launch, and neither did it issue airspace or maritime safety notifications. The Secretary-General strongly condemns the continued development of missiles using ballistic missile technology by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Such actions are clear violations of relevant Security Council resolutions and contribute to increasing tensions in the region and beyond. It should be recalled that, in resolution 2397 (2017), the Security Council reaffirmed its decisions that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea shall not conduct any further launches using ballistic missile technology. There have been other troubling developments since our previous briefing, on 25 March (see S/PV.9004). On 16 April, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea carried out its first launch of a system it characterized as intended for use in “tactical nuclear operations”. The system in question covered a range of 110 kilometres. Developing such systems was among the core defence development tasks for the 2021 to 2025 period set forth during the eighth Party Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea in January 2021. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea leader also made statements on 25 April and 30 April that Pyongyang could pre-emptively use its nuclear weapons. Statements of this nature are deeply concerning. Finally, there are indications of resumed construction activities at the Punggye-ri nuclear-test site, which was declared shut down in 2018. Those developments all relate to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s continuing pursuit of its nuclear programme. While some States continue to rely on nuclear weapons in their security policies, nuclear weapons pose an existential threat to humankind. Their existence heightens the risk of unintended escalation or miscalculation. We must strengthen our efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons. We have consistently conveyed our concerns to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. However, by continuing to pursue its nuclear-weapons programme, including its development of missiles using ballistic missile technology, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continues to defy the repeated demands of the Council to cease such activities. The Secretary-General reaffirms his commitment to working with all parties for sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. He urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to comply with the Council’s decisions, reset the course to dialogue and build on previous diplomatic efforts. Furthermore, the United Nations welcomes and encourages the regular contact and cooperation among key parties regarding the Korean peninsula. We commend the parties for their willingness to engage in dialogue with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea without preconditions. The Secretary-General reiterates the importance of addressing the critical humanitarian needs of people in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The United Nations remains engaged and stands ready, along with its humanitarian partners, to assist people in need in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Their vulnerability has likely increased since the pandemic outbreak and border closures in 2020. We reiterate our call for the entry of international staff, including the United Nations Resident Coordinator, and for the unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies to allow for a timely and effective response. We also acknowledge the work of Member States towards resolving the banking channel for humanitarian operations and emphasize the growing urgency of its conclusion. Let me conclude by reiterating that the unity of the Security Council on this matter is essential to ease tensions, overcome the diplomatic impasse and avoid a negative action-reaction cycle.

I thank Mr. Khiari for his briefing. I would like to draw the attention of speakers to paragraph 22 of presidential note S/2017/507, which encourages all participants in Council meetings to deliver their statements in five minutes or less, in line with the Security Council’s commitment to making more effective use of open meetings. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

I would like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his remarks. Once again, the Security Council is gathered in response to provocations coming from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea regime. It is our common responsibility to address those continued and repeated violations of international law and multiple Security Council own resolutions. The reckless actions of North Korea dramatically increase tensions not only in the Korean peninsula, but far beyond. The world must know that such provocations do not  — and should not — go unnoticed. The Security Council cannot simply wait for an impending catastrophe before we show true commitment. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s actions and reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirm our concerns and raise an even greater alarm. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has not abandoned or slowed down its existing nuclear programmes. On the contrary, it has accelerated them, as the Assistant Secretary-General just highlighted, and it is mounting its nuclear capacities and capabilities with new sophisticated technologies. We strongly condemn those actions and reiterate, once again, our call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to return as soon as possible to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the IAEA safeguards. Since the beginning of the year, we have witnessed multiple high-technology ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, threatening the Korean peninsula and regional and global security. Today we are discussing the fifteenth test by the regime this year — this time, a submarine-launched ballistic missile on 7 May. The message is clear: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continues on its irreversible, dangerous path towards proliferation and weapons of mass destruction programmes. It is now also threatening the use of nuclear weapons, as rightly highlighted by the Assistant Secretary-General. The dangerous militarization course of, and threats by, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must be stopped immediately. The international community  — and the Security Council in particular — must act now to prevent a further increase of tensions and instability in the Korean peninsula, which would have huge consequences worldwide. While the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is threatening the world with its ballistic missiles and nuclear programmes, it is starving its own population into submission at the same time. It is also implementing a large-scale policy threat in cyberspace. Recent credible media reports have shown that the regime has conducted several malicious cyberactivities to collect intelligence, carry out cyberattacks and generate unlawful income. The income from those illegal activities is used to fund its militarization and proliferation efforts. We are strongly concerned about the findings of the recent report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which speaks about “a new arms race that will further militarize the region and dampen prospects for peace and denuclearization and divert resources from social and economic priorities.” (A/HRC/49/74, para. 6) That is a stark reminder that the time to act is now. Repeated calls addressed to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to stop its provocations and violations of international law have clearly failed. Patience has worn out and action is needed. The regime has made the choice to ignore the Council and its resolutions and to break its own commitments: it must be held accountable for its actions. The patience shown by the Council has been misread by the regime, and the Council’s lack of unity has shielded its provocations. That can no longer continue. Speaking out, condemning and calling on the regime to reverse its course and go back to negotiations is no longer enough. There is a need for strong, concrete and resolute action by strengthening measures against the regime. Otherwise, everything indicates that, if we stay idle, we only provide the regime with more opportunities to continue to starve its people and satisfy its appetite for more weapons, threatening the world. It is therefore of paramount importance that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea return to the self-imposed moratorium of 2018 on intercontinental ballistic missile launches, as well as to meaningful dialogue without preconditions, so that the full, comprehensive and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula does not remain a call or a wish but becomes a reality, as foreseen in the resolutions of the Security Council.

I thank Assistant Secretary- General Khiari for his very useful briefing. Ireland condemns the recent missile launches by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The intense and escalatory series of launches over the past six months, including intercontinental ballistic missile launches, in violation of Council resolutions, are a matter of deepest concern and must be brought to an end. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s actions serve only to raise tensions, threatening the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the wider region. They also risk undermining the global non-proliferation architecture. Since the Council last met on this issue (see S/PV.9004), the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has conducted three launches and has restated its aim of enhancing the efficiency in the operation of its tactical nukes, while President Kim Jung-Un has declared the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s resolve to further build up the country’s nuclear combat forces. At the same time, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has continued its nuclear activities at Yongbyon, with the production of further stocks of fissile material, as well as at other sites related to the nuclear programme. That is wholly unacceptable. It directly contravenes the expressed concerns of the international community and the decisions of the Council. The Council has been silent for too long. In that regard, the ongoing work towards a possible Council resolution is welcome and necessary. The Security Council must be united, strong and determined in responding to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s actions. There can only be a diplomatic and peaceful resolution to the issues on the Korean peninsula. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must understand that and take up the offers of dialogue by the United States and South Korea in good faith and without preconditions. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must meet its obligations, as set out in the relevant Security Council resolutions, to abandon its ballistic missile programme and its nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. It must resume its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, and it must sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Until the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea takes meaningful steps to fulfil its obligations, the relevant Council resolutions and the sanctions regime of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) must be fully and effectively enforced. Equally, we must strengthen our efforts to stem sanctions evasion by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which funds and assists procurement for the country’s illegal programmes. Ireland remains deeply concerned at the worrisome humanitarian situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We again urge the Democratic People’s Republic to allow access for United Nations and other humanitarian actors to assess needs and provide appropriate assistance in the country. The Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006), in providing expedited exemptions, has sought to ensure that necessary humanitarian assistance reaches the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. However, the Democratic People’s Republic itself must recognize that prioritizing its illegal military programmes over the livelihoods, well-being and rights of its citizens has had disastrous consequences for its own people. It is time for that to end. The Council has made clear the necessary steps; it is for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to act on them.

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing and welcome the participation of the representatives of the Republic of Korea and Japan at this meeting. Once again, we wish to express our deep concern over the steadily escalating situation in the Korean peninsula. This year alone, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has carried out 15 test launches of missiles using ballistic technology, in clear violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. In addition, there have been disconcerting reports attributed to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s State media of a determination by the country to develop its nuclear weapons in the shortest possible time. Those incessant and provocative acts are driving the region into an arms race, with attendant destabilizing effects and grave implications for global peace and security. Given the situation that obtains, any miscalculation could plunge the Korean peninsula into unspeakable turmoil. The resultant global socioeconomic and security repercussions would be too grave to contemplate, particularly for the global South. In view of that, Kenya reiterates its call for the halting of any further provocative acts in the Korean peninsula. We urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to recommit to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the safeguards established by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council. We reiterate that the only acceptable path is genuine dialogue without preconditions — dialogue that takes into consideration the concerns and perceptions of threat of all parties in the region. In that regard, Kenya urges the international community, in particular States with influence on both sides, to help restart diplomatic efforts. It is disturbing that the provocations are happening against a backdrop of a deteriorating humanitarian situation, with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea experiencing its second-worst drought in 40 years. We encourage the Democratic People’s Republic to prioritize the needs of its people over militarization. Meanwhile, all other parties concerned should spare a thought for the humanitarian plight of the approximately 11 million citizens of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea who are in need. They should endeavour to ensure that any actions taken do not unnecessarily worsen the suffering of the innocent people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

I thank Assistant-Secretary-General Khaled Khiari for his valuable briefing. I also welcome the participation of the representatives of Republic of Korea and Japan in today’s meeting. The United Arab Emirates condemns the latest series of missile tests by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as well as the missiles launched since September 2021, including the submarine-launched ballistic missile on 7 May, as reported, in addition to the intercontinental ballistic missile launched in March. The reports showing that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is preparing to conduct another nuclear test are troubling. We call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to respect relevant international law and norms. We also urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to refrain from any further missile tests, abide by the Security Council resolutions as well the relevant obligations under international law and return to diplomatic talks. The Security Council must spare no effort to prevent further deterioration of the security situation on the Korean peninsula and additional harm to the global non-proliferation agenda. In that context, we would like to emphasize the following three points. First, it is important at this critical juncture that the international community continue to send a clear message on the importance of non-proliferation and maintain intensive efforts aimed at ensuring full compliance to it by all States Members of the United Nations, as this is fundamental to preserving the achievements that have been made over the past few decades. Secondly, with regard to the concerns that measures taken by the Council, including sanctions, could harm the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s development and affect stability in the region, the United Arab Emirates reaffirms its readiness to work with Council members and other Member States, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s neighbouring countries, to address humanitarian concerns, while ensuring that the Council shoulder its responsibility to maintain international peace and security. In that regard, we call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to resume dialogue with the relevant stakeholders so as to benefit, with its people, from numerous economic and development returns if it engages in a genuine denuclearization process. Thirdly, the United Arab Emirates is deeply concerned that the people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continue to suffer from the deteriorating humanitarian conditions. We stress that the country’s limited resources should be directed towards the fulfilment of basic needs and necessities of the people. In order for the international community and the United Nations to help its people, the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should engage constructively in a dialogue with United Nations officials, including the United Nations Resident Coordinator, and should allow them to return to the country to carry out their vital activities. In conclusion, my country emphasizes that sanctions compliance by all Member States and the full implementation of Security Council resolutions remain essential pillars for maintaining international peace and security. Dame Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom): I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing. Once again, the Security Council is meeting to condemn ballistic-missile launches by North Korea. This year alone, as we have heard, North Korea has launched 17 ballistic missiles, each in violation of Security Council resolutions. In the whole of 2021, North Korea conducted eight missile tests. Let us therefore make no mistake about the escalation in tempo and missile capability that those 17 launches represent. North Korea has been quite clear that it intends to continue to develop prohibited programmes, including intercontinental ballistic missiles. Such actions are a threat to regional peace and security. The United Kingdom unequivocally condemns the ballistic-missile launches by North Korea on 4 and 7 May. We urge Council members to meet such violations with a firm and united response. We again call on all Member States to implement existing Security Council resolutions in full. Those are an essential part of the efforts to curtail the continued development of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s prohibited programmes. We fully support the United States-led efforts to update sanctions in the context of the evolving threat that North Korea’s actions present. We are particularly concerned by North Korea’s cyberactivity, through which it evades sanctions and raises funds to support its nuclear and ballistic-missile programmes. That includes the recent cryptocurrency theft by North Korean cyberactors of $620 million. The international community should work together to detect and mitigate such activity, and hold those committing malicious cyberactivity to account. The Security Council’s sanctions are not targeted at the people of North Korea, and we fully support the delivery of humanitarian support to the most vulnerable. We call on North Korea to allow humanitarian workers into the country to carry out an independent assessment of the humanitarian situation and to allow aid to flow freely into the country. North Korea’s continued channelling of its resources into proscribed weapons programmes is responsible for worsening the dire humanitarian situation in that country. We reaffirm our full commitment to non-proliferation obligations. We call on North Korea to refrain from further provocations, to engage meaningfully in dialogue with the United States and to take concrete steps towards denuclearization in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.

First of all, I would like to thank your delegation, Madam President, for having convened this meeting. I would also like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing. We also welcome the representatives of the Republic of Korea and Japan. A little over a month after we met in this very Chamber on the issue of the launching of an intercontinental ballistic missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (see S/PV.9004), we express our deep concern about the latest ballistic launches, most recently on Saturday, 7 May. That constitutes a new provocation, in clear disregard both of Security Council resolutions and of the multilateral system grounded in international law. Mexico condemns the missile launches, which contravene the resolutions of the Security Council, as well as statements on the possible use of nuclear weapons. The continued missile launches, coupled with the development of a nuclear military programme with clear offensive intentions, impede multilateral efforts to foster an environment of stability and cooperation in North-East Asia. Given the failure to suspend the development of missile systems and a possible resumption of activities at the nuclear test site, it is urgent that the Council take a united stand against any action that undermines international peace and security. The current international context has made clear the need for actors with influence, particularly members of the Council, to spare no effort towards de-escalation, including in the various formats envisaged by the multilateral system. I conclude by recalling that the threat of use of nuclear weapons significantly increases the risk of accidents or miscalculations and encourages proliferation. We therefore reiterate our call for maximum restraint, and we emphasize the need for a dialogue with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that leads to the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. We also once again stress the absolute imperative of which we cannot, and must not, lose sight, namely, to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

Let me begin by thanking Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing. On 17 April, North Korean State media announced the test of a “new type of tactical guided weapon”. In the same communiqué, the official news agency praised such a weapon for drastically improving the firepower of the front-line long-range artillery units of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and for enhancing the efficiency in the operation of tactical nukes, thereby attending the core goals of securing the war deterrent set at the eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea. A week later, during a parade to celebrate the ninetieth anniversary of the Korean People’s Army, the North Korean leadership declared that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear weapons “can never be confined to the single mission of war deterrent” if there were a perceived threat against its homeland. After that statement, ballistic missiles were launched on 4 and 7 May. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s message to the international community could not be clearer. At the eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the North Korean leadership had already announced its intentions to develop ultramodern tactical nuclear weapons, hypersonic gliding flight warheads and multi-warhead missiles. Its accomplishments and its pronouncement throughout this year have only confirmed what had already been said, but we perhaps did not want to listen. If we, as the Security Council, had listened to the message that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has delivered time and again, we most certainly would not have been able to respond. The Council’s silence in the face of successive violations of its resolutions is deafening. It is needless to say that Brazil condemns yet another launch of a ballistic missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. I have lost count of how many times my delegation has said that in the few months that we have been on the Council. All members of the Council  — and I repeat, all members of the Council — have individually condemned North Korea’s violations, but none of those individual condemnations matter if the Security Council cannot speak as one single voice. It is high time that the Council adopt strong and unified action in response to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s provocations. Keeping our silence in the face of so much noise only reinforces the arguments of those who accuse the Council of no longer being able to carry out the tasks entrusted to it. Silence in the current situation means irrelevance, and the organ that bears the primary responsibility, under the Charter of the United Nations, for the maintenance of international peace and security cannot afford to seem irrelevant.

I thank you, Madam President, for convening this meeting today. I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari for his briefing on the most recent developments in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and welcome the participation of the representatives of Japan and the Republic of Korea in today’s meeting. India has noted the reports of missile launches by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including the most recent launch, on 7 May, which comes on the heels of its launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile in March and other successive launches. Those launches constitute a violation of the resolutions of the Security Council on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. They affect the peace and security of the region and beyond. We call for the full implementation of Security Council resolutions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. India also believes that there is a pressing need to address the proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies related to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in our region. Those linkages have an adverse impact on peace and security in the region, including on India. Let me reiterate our consistent position here that India supports dialogue as the means of resolving the issues on the Korean peninsula. We also reiterate our continued support for denuclearization towards establishing peace and security on the Korean peninsula. The Council has met several times since the beginning of the year to discuss the series of missile launches by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. In that context, we earlier called for the completion of the report of the Panel of Experts of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) on those launches, in the context of Security Council resolutions. We await that report as soon as possible.

I, too, thank you, Madam President, for convening today’s open meeting on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. I also thank Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Mohamed Khiari for his briefing to the Security Council. While the Council’s attention has been focused elsewhere in recent weeks, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has significantly increased the frequency and types of missiles being launched. Last Saturday’s launch was the fifteenth this year alone. Ghana is therefore gravely concerned about the most recent launch and the others that preceded it, which are all in blatant violation of the international obligations of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as expressed in multiple Security Council resolutions. The reported intentions of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to accelerate the development of its nuclear capabilities at “the highest possible pace”, as well as its threat to use nuclear weapons if its national interests are threatened, are extremely worrisome and contrary to its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, which enjoin all Member States to be peace-loving. The implications of this new development for international peace and security, including for the immediate neighbours of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, are most grave, and the Council must therefore acknowledge that fact and act in a united manner to call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to take concrete, immediate and urgent steps to de-escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula. Ghana reiterates its call for the resumption of constructive and credible dialogue between the relevant parties and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in order to find an enduring, comprehensive and peaceful solution to the issues on the Korean peninsula in a manner that recognizes regional and global security concerns, as well as those of the parties. In that regard, we encourage the United States to sustain its offer of dialogue with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea without preconditions and in a manner that is clear to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to accept the offer in good faith and in support of the cause for peace. It is worth noting that, while tensions on the Korean peninsula are high, the humanitarian situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continues to be dire. Ghana commends the Council and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) for its proactive approach to addressing the humanitarian situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the context of exemptions to the existing sanctions regime and calls on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to streamline its internal processes in order to enable the much-needed medical and other humanitarian supplies to reach the people of the country. We also encourage the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to allow United Nations humanitarian agencies back into the country. We support efforts by the United Nations system to re-establish banking channels in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We hope that the Council and other relevant parties will be able to act in a manner that preserves the peace, while at the same time ensuring that the humanitarian needs of the people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are addressed.

I thank Mr. Khiari for his briefing. France condemns, in the strongest terms, the ballistic missile launched into the sea by North Korea on 7 May. That test, the fifteenth since the start of the year, poses a threat to international peace and security. It is yet another unacceptable violation of Security Council resolutions. The ballistic missile test is very worrisome. Regrettably, it is in line with the stated ambitions of the North Korean regime over the past several months. We know that North Korea seeks to acquire a credible ocean component and achieve a second-strike capability. To that end, it is developing more modern submarines, conducting research on nuclear propulsion and diversifying its means of delivery. The escalation continues. North Korea ended its moratorium by launching an intercontinental ballistic missile on 24 March. Since then, it has conducted three additional ballistic-missile tests, in particular a test on 16 April that sought to develop its tactical nuclear capacity. Only a few days ago, the North Korean leader announced that nuclear weapons would no longer merely be a deterrent but could serve a second purpose if its key interests were threatened. At the same time, activities at the Punggye-ri test site continue, and there is every reason to believe that North Korea could conduct another nuclear test within weeks or even days. The situation is very worrisome. The Council must act and unanimously condemn that new provocation. Doing nothing would pose a major risk to regional stability and the international non-proliferation architecture. In the light of those repeated provocations, we support efforts to ensure that the Council responds in unison. Some call for the easing of sanctions, which would make no sense in the current context. Instead, we must impose stricter sanctions and update the sanctions regime, including in new areas such as the cyber domain, which enable North Korea to fund its programmes. France urges North Korea to begin the process for the full, verifiable and irreversible dismantling of its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes. We also call for a resumption of dialogue. All actors in the region must be involved. North Korea must accept the proposals offered to it in that regard. Lastly, France expresses its concern about the humanitarian situation. However, we also recall that there are exemptions that function perfectly within a sanctions regime. We deeply deplore the fact that the North Korean regime continues to develop its proliferation programmes to the detriment of its own people.

Tensions are currently high on the Korean peninsula, and the prospect of escalation is worrisome. China calls on all parties to remain calm and show restraint, remain on the path of dialogue and consultation and avoid any action that might aggravate tensions and lead to miscalculation. We sincerely support better relations between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea and the promotion of reconciliation and cooperation. We look forward to détente and positive developments in the situation on the Korean peninsula. The issue of the Korean peninsula should be looked at historically and comprehensively so as to understand the causes and consequences of the matter at hand. After 2018, there was a general de-escalation of the situation on the Korean peninsula. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea took a series of measures to denuclearize and de-escalate the situation. The leaders of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States met in person in Singapore and reached an important consensus on establishing a new phase in the relations between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States for building a peace mechanism and advancing the denuclearization process on the Korean peninsula. Regrettably, the United States side later reneged on its position and did not reciprocate the positive initiatives taken by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in accordance with the principle of “action for action”, thereby leading to an intractable impasse in talks between the two countries, increasing their mutual distrust and stalling the denuclearization process on the Korean peninsula. Engaging in dialogue and consultation is the only correct way to resolve the Korean peninsula issue. The United States is a direct party to the Korean peninsula issue and holds the key to breaking the deadlock. As such, it should take concrete actions to constructively address the reasonable concerns of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and create the conditions necessary for the early resumption of dialogue. Although the United States side verbally claims that it is willing to engage in unconditional dialogue, when it comes to actions it continues to tighten sanctions and exert pressure, which is clearly not constructive. The new draft resolution proposed by the United States, which evokes Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, is focused on furthering sanctions, which is not an appropriate way to address the current situation on the Korean peninsula. Over the years, the Security Council has adopted numerous resolutions on the Korean peninsula issue, which while authorizing sanctions have also stressed the need for a peaceful, political and diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula. They all deserve our attention equally. Sanctions are only a means to an end and should always serve the overall goal of reaching a political settlement. Equating sanctions to, or using them to replace, diplomatic efforts is like putting the cart before the horse and will not achieve the desired results. Despite the fact that sanctions have already had a negative humanitarian impact and resulted in collateral damage in other countries, the countries concerned continue to be in total denial, which is inconsistent with the conclusions of various international humanitarian agencies and the Panel of Experts of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006). In fact, in response to the current situation China and a number of Council members have put forward reasonable proposals for exploring ways to take strong actions and promote a political solution to the Korean peninsula issue in a way that best garners the consensus of Council members. The draft resolution proposed by China and Russia is also designed for that purpose. Regrettably, the United States has turned a blind eye to the reasonable proposals of China and other Council members and remains superstitiously infatuated with the magic power of sanctions. We believe that if the United States changes its negative attitude, it will be possible for Council members to reach a consensus. We hope that Council members will give serious consideration to the joint Russian-Chinese draft resolution. Owing to its close proximity to the Korean peninsula, China is extremely concerned about the situation there and has always insisted on maintaining its peace, stability and denuclearization, as well as on resolving problems through dialogue and consultation. We advocate that all parties concerned should prioritize the overall peace and stability of the Korean peninsula, adhere to the approach of dialogue and consultation, meet each other halfway, resume meaningful dialogue at an early date and explore effective ways to resolve all parties’ legitimate concerns in a balanced manner. China is seriously concerned about several recent negative developments. Some countries call for the denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea while they themselves promote cooperation on nuclear submarines, which carries serious risks of nuclear proliferation. Some countries profess their concerns about the military development of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea while at the same time they develop, with much fanfare, their own offensive-weapons systems, such as hypersonic weapons systems. A certain politician in a certain country concerned even went so far as to openly advocate for discussing the sharing of nuclear weapons under the pretext of addressing security threats. China’s global security initiative is an important guide for resolving the issue of the Korean peninsula. Security is indivisible. The security of one country cannot be based on the insecurity of another, which is a concept that applies everywhere and at all times. China once again calls on all parties concerned to jointly hold dear and maintain the Korean peninsula’s peace and stability, work together to promote the establishment of a peace mechanism and denuclearization process on the Korean peninsula, and play a constructive role to that end.

Russia opposes any military activity that threatens the security of the Korean peninsula and the States of North-East Asia. We are convinced that seeking mutually acceptable political and diplomatic solutions is the only way to peacefully resolve the issues concerning the Korean peninsula and establish stable security mechanisms in North-East Asia. That should be our main goal, which once achieved will enable the normalization of the situation in the region. We note with regret that for the past four years, the Security Council has been unable to respond to the dismantling by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of its nuclear test site, as well as Pyongyang’s compliance with the moratorium on nuclear testing and the launching of intercontinental ballistic missiles. In each of the resolutions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea adopted since 2006, the Council has expressed its readiness to review the restrictions based on the level of Pyongyang’s compliance with the provisions of the relevant documents. Regrettably, to date the Council has only tightened the sanctions, while ignoring the positive signals from North Korea. In that regard, the current developments are merely the consequence of the short-sightedness of some colleagues here, who are not ready to move beyond the limits of a sanctions-based paradigm, which for many years has been unable to guarantee security in the region. We have seen no other viable initiatives from them. We also believe that the further strengthening of sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea exceeds the scope of measures that are needed to cut off channels for funding nuclear missile programmes and expose the people of North Korea to unacceptable socioeconomic and humanitarian turmoil. We would like to remind our American colleagues that negotiations are a two-way street. There is no point in expecting Pyongyang to disarm without conditions under the threat of tightening the vice of sanctions, while in return it receives only unsubstantiated promises as guarantees. The establishment of new military alliances in the region, such as the trilateral security pact among Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, casts serious doubts about the good intentions of those countries, including from the perspective of Pyongyang, and does not help to foster dialogue. The institutions and mechanisms of the United Nations and the Security Council should be used to support the settlement processes and intra-Korean dialogue and should not be an obstacle to them. Only then will we be able to address the effective resolution of the problems that have accumulated in the region, including the nuclear issue, on the basis of dialogue and mutually acceptable agreements. Sanctions and pressure will not achieve that. Further resentment has also been caused by the so-called autonomous secondary sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and other States that have been imposed by Washington and its allies, in circumvention of and in addition to Security Council sanctions. By running counter to the norms and rules of international trade, unilateral sanctions undermine not only the sovereignty and legitimate interests of Member States but also the integrity of the sanctions agreed by the Security Council. It is unacceptable to attempt to enshrine such sanctions through the Security Council’s authority or that of its Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006). In that regard, we call on all to exercise restraint and reaffirm a practical readiness for renewed dialogue in line with previous agreements and obligations. The Russian-Chinese political-humanitarian draft resolution remains before the Council and could encourage parties to step up their negotiation efforts. At the same time, we would like to note that the lack of progress on the political track  — progress that could have been secured by the adoption of the draft resolution I mentioned — threatens to further increase tensions on the Korean peninsula, as has unfortunately been the case in recent months.

I thank Mr. Khiari for his briefing and welcome the participation of the Permanent Representatives of Korea and Japan in this meeting. We are meeting this afternoon because North Korea carried out another missile launch on 7 May. That missile launch — the fifteenth since the beginning of the year — confirms an escalation in terms of both frequency and the type of projectiles launched. In a particularly tense global security context, that fifteenth launch increases the magnitude of the potential threat to peace and security, not only on the Korean peninsula but also at the global level. My country condemns the missile launches. We are deeply concerned about North Korea’s recent announcements of its desire to accelerate the development of its nuclear capabilities. We are further concerned about the trend of trivializing the nuclear threat in recent months, which does not bode well for collective peace and security. However, it is precisely because nuclear peril is imminent that the negotiating parties must redouble their efforts and be bold in bringing North Korea back to the table for talks. In that regard, we urge the parties to de-escalate and refrain from any rhetoric that could exacerbate tensions and undermine the common goal of peace and peaceful coexistence on a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. My country urges the parties to activate channels of diplomacy in good faith in order to advance discussions on the matter. North Korea is subject to the highest and most comprehensive sanctions regime. However, those coercive measures do not seem to be having an impact on the continuation of the country’s nuclear programme. Furthermore, the humanitarian situation is most alarming. I would like to conclude by emphasizing the urgency of resuming negotiations to find a viable solution in the interests of the North Korean people and security on the Korean peninsula. We call on all parties to engage in diplomatic negotiations, based on the road map laid out in 2017.

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his useful briefing, and I welcome the presence of the representatives of the Republic of Korea and Japan at the Security Council. Norway strongly condemns the ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including most recently on 4 and 7 May. We are deeply concerned by the growing capabilities demonstrated by the intensive pattern of those launches. The continued development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a direct threat to regional and international peace and security and violates several Security Council resolutions. The final report of the Panel of Experts established pursuant to resolution 1874 (2009) (see S/2022/132) shows the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s high-level and sustained commitment to developing its ballistic missile programme. Central to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s ability to act on that resolve is its ability to fund and procure materials and technology for its illegal weapons of mass destructions (WMD) programmes, including through cyber means. The Council has a responsibility to consider appropriate actions. We continue to urge the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to comply fully with its international obligations, reverse its course and rejoin the international non-proliferation regime through the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. The current path is not only a threat to regional and international peace and security but also aggravates the already deteriorating economic, humanitarian and human rights situation in the country. We are profoundly discouraged to see that the Government continues to channel its resources towards weapons development instead of towards the housing, food and vaccines that are much needed by its own people. We call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to end its self-imposed blockade and allow the United Nations and its resident coordinator, as well as other international organizations, to re-enter the country and resume their humanitarian work. We also call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to respond to repeated offers of dialogue and take concrete steps to abandon its WMD and ballistic missile programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. Now more than ever, we need the Council to show unity. In 2017, a united Council expressed its determination to take further significant measures in the event of a further nuclear test or launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We therefore welcome the United States efforts to address the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s continued resolution violations.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United States of America. I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing, and I welcome our colleagues from the Republic of Korea and Japan to our meeting today. The United States strongly condemns the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s 16 April, 4 May and 7 May ballistic missile launches, which were only the latest in a series of ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in recent months — each one a blatant violation of multiple Security Council resolutions. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has conducted 17 — and I must repeat the number because I have heard different numbers in the room today — 17 ballistic missile launches this year alone. At least three were intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs); one was an intermediate-range ballistic missile; two were so-called hypersonic weapons; and two were described as a new type of missile for tactical nuclear weapons. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is also reconstructing its nuclear testing site in preparation for a seventh nuclear test. All those ballistic missile launches, as well as a nuclear test, violate Security Council resolutions. They pose threats to regional and international security, and they seek to undermine the global non-proliferation regime. The Security Council should not stand for that, but it has stayed silent because two Council members have argued that Council restraint will somehow encourage the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to stop escalating and instead come to the negotiating table. Clearly, silence and restraint have not worked. In fact, the exact opposite has happened: while the Security Council has remained silent, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continues to escalate with repeated launches and threatening rhetoric. Let us be clear: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is not undertaking its activities defensively in response to threatening behaviour. That self-initiated and unprovoked campaign of ballistic missile launches threatens its neighbours and attempts to undermine the Council. In fact, on 25 April Kim Jong Un called for the development of his State’s nuclear forces at the highest level of rapidity. That further proves that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is not responding to the Council’s silence with restraint or goodwill. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea sees that the Council used to respond with meaningful consequences but no longer does so. Therefore, it interprets the Council’s silence to mean that it will not face future consequences and it sees our silence as permission to continue on its stated trajectory. It is time to stop providing tacit permission and to start taking action. The United States remains committed to a diplomatic solution. We have said that over and over again. We hope that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will accept our repeated offers of dialogue. We have also asked those who regularly speak with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to encourage it to engage in diplomacy. In the meantime, we have a responsibility to respond to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s unlawful behaviour. The sanctions regime has been effective in slowing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s weapons-of-mass-destruction and ballistic- missile advancements. But every sanction regime requires continued upkeep and ongoing focus on implementation to be successful. It is long past time we updated this one. Unfortunately, over the last four years two members have blocked every attempt to enforce and to update the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea sanctions list, enabling the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s unlawful action. In resolution 2397 (2017), the Security Council committed to taking action to further restrict the export to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of petroleum if that country conducted the launch of a ballistic missile system capable of reaching intercontinental ranges. In full knowledge of that provision, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea moved forward with the launching of at least three ICBMs this year. If we want the word of the Security Council to mean anything, we cannot stay silent any longer. To that end, in order to further restrict the ability of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to advance its unlawful programme and to send a signal to all proliferators, the United States has been negotiating with our fellow Council members on a new Chapter VII draft resolution. I am very grateful to my fellow Council members that have taken this issue as seriously as we have and engaged constructively in negotiations. We are now nearing the end of negotiations on the United States- proposed draft resolution, and we cannot wait until the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea conducts additional provocative, illegal, dangerous acts such as a nuclear test. We need to speak up, now, with a strong and unified voice, in condemnation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s behaviour. We need to act now to restrict any further unlawful developments before it is too late. We encourage all Council members to support our proposed draft resolution and show that the Security Council will respond to threats to international peace and security and to blatant violations of its resolutions. This is not a bilateral issue. It is not a regional issue. This is a global issue. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is testing capabilities that can threaten all Council members and every single State Member of the United Nations, including those that are protecting them. This is about our collective responsibility to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The Council was formed precisely to respond to the kinds of global threats that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is posing to the world. I encourage all Member States to join us in denouncing this dangerous and unlawful behaviour and to take action to prevent the worst. In response to the Chinese and Russian proposal for a draft resolution predicated on their assessment that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is showing goodwill through a moratorium, as understood by them, on intermediate-range ballistic-missile and ICBM and nuclear tests, the draft resolution is really not appropriate at this time. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has shown repeatedly this year that such a moratorium does not exist. In the light of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s escalating provocations and its return to the testing of long-range systems, the purported basis for its draft resolution has no validity. We need to turn quickly to strengthening the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) sanctions regime, not considering sanctions relief. Finally, as I have said repeatedly in this Chamber, the enhanced trilateral security partnership known as AUKUS does not violate the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and China and Russia know that. We take our NPT obligations very seriously, and I know that the United Kingdom and Australia do, too. It is worrisome that two of our fellow colleagues insist on distracting from discussions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s clear attempt to undermine the global non-proliferation regime with those false claims. Those countries’ attempts to defend the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should not go unnoticed by the Council or the world. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. I would like to again draw the attention of speakers to paragraph 22 of presidential note S/2017/507, which encourages all participants in Council meetings to deliver their statements in five minutes or less, in line with the Security Council’s commitment to making more effective use of open meetings. I now give the floor to the representative of the Republic of Korea.

I would like to thank you, Madam President, for having convened this meeting of the Security Council to address the recent ballistic-missile launches of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which took place on 4 and 7 May, local time. I appreciate this opportunity to participate in today’s discussions and thank Assistant Secretary- General Ambassador Khiari for his briefing. At the most recent open meeting of the Security Council held in response to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s intercontinental ballistic-missile (ICBM) launch, held in March (see S/PV.9004), my delegation urged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to choose the path of engagement and cooperation instead of that of confrontation and escalation. At the time, almost every member of the Council urged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to cease its provocative actions. However, despite those calls by the international community, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has chosen to further destabilize the region. The Republic of Korea condemns in the strongest terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s recent ballistic-missile launches, which constitute a flagrant violation of multiple Security Council resolutions. They pose a significant threat to the Korean peninsula, the region and the international community, and is also a serious challenge to the global non-proliferation regime. Those launches once again demonstrate Pyongyang’s complete disregard of international norms, including the Charter of the United Nations and the Council. Moreover, the launches demonstrate that the North Korean regime continues to prioritize its weapons-of-mass-destruction and ballistic-missile programmes at the expense of its own people, who are continuing to suffer from the dire humanitarian situation. My delegation is particularly alarmed at and concerned about the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s recent statements in which it has threatened to pre-emptively use its nuclear weapons. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s position is becoming increasingly aggressive, edging towards the actual use of nuclear capabilities. In other words, the international community is entering a much more dangerous phase of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear threat. Unfortunately, despite such alarming threats and continued violations of international law, the Council has been unable to muster an effective response. If the Council does not firmly respond to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s continued escalatory behaviour, it will inevitably lead to more Member States deliberately ignoring their obligations under multiple Security Council resolutions. Therefore, the Security Council must respond to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s repeated provocations with the adoption of a new resolution that contains robust measures corresponding to the gravity of the behaviour of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Now is the time to take swift and strong measures to send a firm message to Pyongyang that its escalatory behaviour must come to an end. The Council’s silence in the face of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s countless ballistic-missile launches earlier this year, including the latest ICBM launch, only further emboldened Pyongyang. That led it to think that it can get away with its bad behaviour without any consequences. In that light, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must be held accountable for its actions. The international community has recently been witnessing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s activities around its nuclear test sites. Pyongyang has also proclaimed that it will continue to take measures for further developing nuclear forces at the fastest possible speed, forewarning that a nuclear test may be imminent. The Security Council and the rest of the international community must speak up and send a clear warning to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that another nuclear test is intolerable and will be met with a very firm response by the international community, including resolute and united measures to be taken by the Council in accordance with multiple consensus resolutions adopted by this very organ. We strongly urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to cease its provocative behaviour, fulfil its obligations under the relevant Security Council resolutions and engage in meaningful dialogue on denuclearization with the Republic of Korea and the United States. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should realize that it will gain nothing from provocations. We urge Pyongyang to respond to our endeavours to build sustainable peace on the Korean peninsula through complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization.

I now give the floor to the representative of Japan.

I thank Mr. Khiari for his briefing. Since the Security Council last met on this agenda item in late March (see S/PV.9004), North Korea has only accelerated its nuclear and missile programmes as if it were taking advantage of the lack of a strong Council reaction. Its ballistic-missile launches on 4 and 7 May, local time, twice in just one week, are clear violations of the relevant Security Council resolutions. One of those launches is presumed to be that of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, indicating further diversification of its missile forces. Japan strongly condemns those dangerous and destabilizing acts. The absence of a public announcement by North Korea does not provide impunity. I also have to alert the Council to the fact that additional gravely worrisome signs are looming in the nuclear dimension. North Korea announced in mid-April that it had conducted another round of missile launches, stating that the missiles were for “strengthening the effectiveness of tactical nuclear operation” — the first announcement placing a specific launch in the context of its development of tactical nuclear weapons. North Korea then publicly stated in late April that it would develop its nuclear forces “at the fastest possible speed”. It also alluded to the possible use of nuclear weapons, not just for deterrence but for other purposes. Furthermore, there have been widespread reports of ongoing activities at a nuclear test site in North Korea, possibly in preparation for another nuclear test. We must not tolerate North Korea’s nuclear and missile development becoming a new normal. The level of threat far exceeds what we saw in 2017, and it is increasing. It poses a grave and imminent threat to the security of Japan and beyond. It challenges the very authority of the Security Council. It increases proliferation risks in every corner of the world and threatens international peace and security. Please allow me to emphasize the response that Japan strongly wishes to see from the Security Council. First, we need the Council’s swift action in the form of a new sanctions resolution. North Korea has publicly declared that it will implement its five-year plan, which includes a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and tactical nuclear weapons. The right message to discourage such potential developments and urge it to come back to diplomatic dialogue can be sent only through a new resolution. Japan earnestly supports the United States initiative for a new resolution in that respect. We request all other Council members to do the same. Secondly, a new resolution must match the increasing level of threat. Japan considers it critical to follow up on what resolution 2397 (2017) stipulates with regard to further restrictions on oil in the event of a North Korean ICBM launch. We also support possible actions in relevant fields, including the cyberdomain, which has been identified as a key source of North Korea’s revenue by the Panel of Experts of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006). In conclusion, Japan reiterates its sincere and strong expectation that the Council will fulfil its responsibility to realize the dismantlement of all North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, in accordance with the relevant Council resolutions. Japan will continue to cooperate with Council members and all other Member States to reach a comprehensive solution to the issues related to North Korea.