S/PV.9197 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 Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I give the floor to Ms. DiCarlo Ms. DiCarlo: According to the official news agency of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and various Government sources, at around 10.15 a.m. local time on 18 November, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea test-fired what it described as a new- type intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which it named the Hwasong-17. The missile reportedly flew a distance of 1,000 kilometres and to an altitude of approximately 6,100 kilometres. It is reportedly the first successful test of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s largest and most powerful missile, capable of reaching all of North America. The launch was the latest in a series of alarming activities related to its nuclear-weapon and ballistic missile programmes that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has conducted in 2022, including over 60 launches using ballistic missile technology. Two of those launches involved ballistic missiles characterized by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as being of intermediate-range, and three as intercontinental-range. Other launches involved shorter-range missiles using ballistic technology and other systems, which the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has stated are for use to deliver so-called tactical nuclear weapons. This year it has also carried out launches using ballistic missile technology to test so-called hypersonic weapons and satellite systems. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea did not issue airspace or maritime safety notifications for any of those launches. Unannounced launches represent a serious risk to international civil aviation and maritime traffic. The Secretary-General has strongly condemned the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s latest intercontinental ballistic missile launch, the second ICBM launch this month. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s continued pursuit of its nuclear- weapons programme and launches of ballistic missiles blatantly violate relevant Security Council resolutions and have led to a significant escalation of tensions. We reiterate our calls on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to desist from taking further provocative actions and to fully comply with its international obligations under relevant Security Council resolutions. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea also appears to be actively pursuing its nuclear programme. The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on 16 November that the Punggye-ri nuclear test site “remains prepared to support a nuclear test”. The IAEA has continued to observe activity at the site. It has also observed construction activities at the Yongbyon nuclear facilities as well as indications that the 5-megawatt nuclear reactor was operating. This is the tenth time that the Council has met to discuss the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 2022, yet the situation on the Korean peninsula continues to head in the wrong direction. The repeated missile launches, confrontational rhetoric and military exercises contribute to a negative action-reaction cycle. Tensions continue to increase, with no off-ramps in sight. In addition, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is complicating diplomacy by impeding official and unofficial contacts with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It is critical to de-escalate and reduce tensions. Communication channels must be enhanced, particularly military-to-military, to lower the risk of miscalculation. I join the Secretary-General in urging the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to take immediate steps to resume dialogue leading to sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. I also conveyed our serious concerns during my meeting with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s Permanent Representative on 9 November. The Secretary-General counts on members of the Council, as a united body as well as individually, to urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to refrain from carrying out further launches using ballistic missile technology or a seventh nuclear test. Unity in the Security Council is critical, and a diplomatic solution is the only way forward. Let me conclude by stressing our concerns regarding the humanitarian situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The United Nations is ready to assist the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in addressing medical and humanitarian needs, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic. To allow for a timely and effective response, we reiterate our call for the unimpeded entry of international staff and humanitarian supplies.

I thank Ms. DiCarlo for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing. The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s blatant, brazen 7 November launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It has been widely reported that the missile landed just 125 miles from Japan’s shores. That is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s eighth ICBM launch this year, one of an unprecedented 63 ballistic missiles in 2022. That is more than two-and-a-half times its previous annual record of 25. Sixty-three times this year the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has flagrantly violated Security Council resolutions and attempted to undermine the global non-proliferation regime. Sixty- three times this year the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has shown an utter disregard for the safety and security of the region and a complete lack of respect for the Security Council. How many more missiles must be launched before we respond as a unified Council? The Secretary-General’s statement on Friday condemned the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile and reiterated his call for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to immediately desist from taking any further provocative actions and fully comply with its international obligations under all the relevant Security Council resolutions. It is time that the Security Council made the same call as the Secretary-General. For too long, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has acted with impunity. It has conducted escalatory and destabilizing ballistic-missile launches without fear of a response or reprisal from the Council. As noted by the Under-Secretary-General, this is the tenth time that we have met without significant action. The reason is simple. Two veto-wielding members of the Council are enabling and emboldening the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. They have allowed the regime to launch this latest reckless missile test, which endangered the lives of Japanese civilians and needlessly raises tensions in the region. Those two members’ blatant obstructionism has put the North-East Asian region and the entire world at risk. It is simply impossible to be considered a responsible steward of nuclear weapons if one condones such behaviour. I have been meeting with Member States across the United Nations to hear their ideas on Security Council reform, and I can say that when they talk about abuse of the veto, they are talking about cases exactly like this one. We will offer another opportunity for the Council to hold the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea accountable for its dangerous rhetoric and its destabilizing actions. The United States will be proposing a presidential statement to that end. The Council should be pursuing strong actions such as draft resolutions of the kind we brought to a vote in May (see S/PV.9048 and draft resolution S/2022/431). But as a step forward, we are prepared to take our colleagues up on their assertion that they would have considered a presidential statement following the 24 March ICBM launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. I strongly encourage all of my colleagues in the Security Council to join us in firmly condemning the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and taking action to curb its unlawful advances of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. Let me be clear: the United States is committed to pursuing a diplomatic approach. As we have repeatedly stated, we are prepared to meet without preconditions. And I call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to engage in serious and sustained diplomacy. But it has continued to refuse to respond and has instead chosen to continue its reckless behaviour. The Council must respond instead.

I would like to thank Under- Secretary-General DiCarlo for her informative and factual presentation. The facts speak for themselves. The intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 18 November is the second within a month and the eighth this year, and is reportedly one of its most powerful and therefore most threatening. The unprecedented trend that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is setting with the intensity of its ICBM launches and the frequency of its ballistic-missile tests in general is beyond alarming. Albania strongly condemns the continued blatant violations of Security Council resolutions by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We deplore the regime’s unacceptable escalatory actions and provocations of its neighbours and the wider world. Demonstrating continued reckless behaviour, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is launching missiles close to civilian areas, and this is the second time in three weeks that it has put the lives of people on the Korean peninsula in danger, not to mention demonstrated its repeated disregard of air space and maritime safety notifications, which Under-Secretary- General DiCarlo clearly pointed out as well. We have discussed the same issue several times, in fact almost every month this year, including just a few weeks ago (see S/PV.9183). The situation has unfortunately only worsened. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has long put itself outside the law, but that is not new or news. However, what may be news is that despite such a blatantly unacceptable attitude, the Security Council is silent and muted as if nothing has happened. No wonder the regime in Pyongyang considers that a licence to continue and do more of the same. And that is exactly what is happening. This year has seen a record number of launches of a variety of ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles, enabling the regime to advance its unlawful programme and test improved and more powerful missiles, exacerbating tensions, ignoring calls, disrespecting resolutions, showing contempt for the Security Council and snubbing the international community. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s regime has made deliberate threats to peace and security on the Korean peninsula and in the wider world its modus vivendi. That is beyond troubling and should not be tolerated. The Council been unable since 2017 to show unity and act on all the continuing destabilizing and increasingly provocative activities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. As a result, the regime is becoming further weaponized in practice, identity, mindset, attitude and behaviour. We wonder what message is sent to those who believe in the United Nations and its role when the Security Council proves unable to deal with a regime that flouts without distinction every Council resolution on the matter, ignores international law and established rules of behaviour, disregards the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and openly violates the sanctions regime. Where is the Council’s power, role and responsibility to deal with a continuing situation with a regime that has decided to be destabilizing, escalatory and threatening to its neighbours and the world? Those are questions that need answers. We therefore call on all Council members to respond unanimously with a strong, action-oriented Council product proportional to the gravity of actions of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and its ballistic-missile programme and weapons-of-mass- destruction proliferation regime. Failing to do so only sends the wrong message, as we can testify. It also erodes the credibility of the Council and betrays all who expect the Council to stand up and act. We applaud the common position adopted by the 10 elected members of the Council, who came with a joint declaration on 4 November calling on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to change course and for the Council to show unity. Other members should do the same and bring the Council together. We will always support dialogue and diplomacy for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. We urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to start acting responsibly, end its dangerous testing manoeuvres and commit to dialogue and diplomacy. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a regional and global threat, and all the actors involved should therefore take up their responsibilities and join efforts that feed into and lead to diplomatic solutions. For that, the Security Council must use every tool that it has in its hands to make the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea change its course, abandon its weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missile and nuclear programmes and seriously engage in dialogue that leads to ending its unlawful activities in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. Inaction would mean allowing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to continue to act with impunity for its reprehensible actions.

I thank the Under-Secretary-General for her briefing. France condemns in the strongest terms the firing of a new intercontinental ballistic missile on 18 November, which fell within Japan’s exclusive economic zone. France assures Japan and the Republic of Korea of its solidarity following that irresponsible act. The current escalation is dangerous. The unprecedented increase in ballistic tests should be a source of concern to all. Each of those launches is a challenge to the authority of the Security Council and a violation of its unanimously adopted resolutions. The launches undermine the non-proliferation regime and pose a threat to international peace and security. Never before has North Korea fired so many missiles, including intercontinental missiles. Never before has it used such aggressive nuclear rhetoric. It is now openly claiming that it intends to develop a tactical nuclear arsenal, and it is conducting weapons simulations. The International Atomic Energy Agency has noted a pattern of activity that raises fears of a seventh nuclear test. North Korea relentlessly circumvents sanctions by every means at its disposal, including through its cyberattacks, which directly fund its programmes. In that context, it would make no sense to ease the sanctions. Pressure must be maintained, and increased in certain areas. The North Korean regime must stop diverting the country’s scarce resources to fund its proliferation programmes to the detriment of the needs of its population. France will continue to call for North Korea to rapidly return to the negotiating table in good faith in order to achieve complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization. We urge North Korea to respond to the offers of unconditional dialogue made on several occasions by States of the region. We must be frank: the Security Council’s inaction provides North Korea with cover to continue its provocations. Such new provocations require a united, responsible and resolute response from the international community. The Council’s credibility is also at stake. France will spare no effort to ensure that it acts in a united manner to respond to the unprecedented escalation.

I thank Under-Secretary- General DiCarlo for her briefing. Ireland once again condemns the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s latest launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which landed within Japan’s exclusive economic zone. That launch not only violates Security Council resolutions, but it also threatens the safety and security of people in the region. We are particularly conscious of the ongoing impact on the Republic of Korea and Japan. In resolution 2397 (2017), the Council decided that it would act in response to any further ICBM launches by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We have now had eight such launches by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea this year alone. It is a matter of the deepest concern that each of those launches did not receive any Council response. Statements were blocked, and a proportionate and balanced draft resolution (S/2022/431) was vetoed by two members. The silence of the Security Council in the face of more than 60 ballistic missile launches this year sends a very worrisome message to the countries of the region, and a very dangerous one to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It suggests that the Council is unwilling, or unable, to uphold its own resolutions and that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea can act with impunity. That cannot stand. Let us be clear. Through its actions and rhetoric, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is solely responsible for raising tensions. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea alone has rejected dialogue and negotiation. It has refused the repeated and unfaltering offers of talks from the United States and the Republic of Korea. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has rejected its obligations under the Charter of the United nations, stating that it will not abide by Security Council resolutions. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has sought to establish itself as a nuclear Power, following its stated intention of developing tactical nuclear weapons. It threatens a seventh nuclear test in contravention of Council resolutions. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has worsened the situation of its own people. It diverts resources from legitimate humanitarian needs to illegal military nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. It has blocked international humanitarian assistance, including coronavirus disease vaccines. It is now time for the Security Council to send a clear signal that that is unacceptable and must end. The actions of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are a flagrant violation of the decisions and authority of the Council. We call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to engage in genuine dialogue and respect its obligations under Council resolutions. The Security Council must be clear that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must completely, verifiably and irreversibly end its illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, return to compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and meet its International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards obligations. It must adhere to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty without delay. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea can never, and will never, be accepted as a nuclear-weapon State. It is the rhetoric and actions of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that create an ever- worsening problem. The Council must now, finally, be clear in its response before it is too late.

First, let me thank Under- Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing. We also welcome the participation of the representatives of Japan and the Republic of Korea in this meeting. Norway is appalled by the continued launches of ballistic missiles by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We condemn in the strongest terms the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on 18 November. The increase in the number of ballistic missile tests since the beginning of this year is cause for grave concern. Those launches are unprecedented in frequency, diversity and scale. Furthermore, the nuclear rhetoric of the State media of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the reopening of the nuclear test site at Punggye-ri are deeply troubling. Both the Republic of Korea and Japan recently experienced missiles landing within their economic zones. The continued weapons development and testing raise tensions and threaten peace and stability in the region and beyond. They also endanger civil aviation and maritime traffic in the region. We urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to immediately refrain from further missile launches and contribute to de-escalating tensions. Norway believes that diplomacy is the right, and only, way forward for sustained peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. For that to happen, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must choose the path of dialogue. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s continued development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes is deeply disturbing. We recall that the development of such programmes is in violation of multiple Security Council resolutions. It is therefore regrettable that the Council continues to be silent. We reiterate our call for the Council to show unity in responding to the escalatory behaviour of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The Council’s unanimously adopted sanctions measures are an essential part of our efforts to slow the development of, and counter, North Korea’s prohibited weapons programmes. They are not intended to have adverse humanitarian consequences for the civilian population. Members of the Council continue to show that they take the humanitarian situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea seriously. Requests for humanitarian exemptions are swiftly processed in the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006). The provisions contained in the draft resolution discussed on 26 May (S/2022/431) would also have considerably broadened the humanitarian exemption mechanism. Norway also remains worried about the humanitarian situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We call on the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to cooperate with the international community to enable humanitarian assistance to reach the North Korean people, including access for the Resident Coordinator, the United Nations and other international agencies. We also call on all Member States to fully implement the existing Security Council resolutions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Dame Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom): I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing. We too condemn in the strongest terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s further serious breach of Security Council resolutions, which threatens international peace and security. The Council last discussed the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s ballistic missiles launches just over two weeks ago (see S/PV.9183). At that meeting, all but two Council members emphasized the seriousness of the situation and supported a clear response. Yet despite the egregious violation of Council resolutions, the same two members prevented the Council from fulfilling its role. When the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea tested intercontinental ballistic missiles in 2017, the Council’s response on each occasion was robust and unified, with the unanimous adoption of resolutions 2371 (2017), 2375 (2017) and 2397 (2017). Negotiations between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States began within months. A return to dialogue remains the only means for resolving the insecurity on the Korean peninsula. However, continued silence by the Council in the face of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s provocations will not achieve that. We therefore support the draft presidential statement proposed by the United States. The United Kingdom will continue to call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to cease its illegal activity and to engage meaningfully with offers of dialogue from the United States and the Republic of Korea. Diplomacy remains the only option. We strongly encourage the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to invest in food and medicine for its people rather than in its illegal weapons programme, to provide access for United Nations staff and to allow aid to flow freely into the country. We welcome the continued efforts of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) to quickly exempt humanitarian assistance from sanctions.

I listened carefully to the briefing just delivered by Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo. Currently, the situation on the Korean peninsula is in a downwards spiral of rising tensions and intensifying confrontation. China is concerned about this. We hope that the parties concerned will continue in the direction of a political settlement and try to meet each other halfway in order to prevent the situation from repeatedly escalating or even getting out of control. The rising tensions on the Korean peninsula are not in the interests of any party and are not something China wants to see. The world today is full of uncertainties, and the peninsula cannot afford the danger of a further deterioration of the situation. The parties concerned must focus on the overall peace and stability of the entire peninsula and of North-East Asia at large, take practical measures, play a positive role and make every effort to promote a political settlement of the issue. First, to make every effort to cool down the situation, maintain stability and prevent turbulence, under the current circumstances, all parties should remain calm, exercise restraint, act and speak with caution and refrain from taking any action that might escalate tensions and lead to miscalculations in order to prevent the situation from falling into a vicious cycle. Secondly, to return to the correct path and restart the dialogue, all parties should address the root cause of the long-standing stalemate on the issue, work hard to resolve their respective concerns in a balanced manner and stay committed to the correct direction of dialogue and consultation. The United States should take the initiative, show sincerity, put forward realistic and feasible proposals, respond positively to the legitimate concerns of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and transform the dialogue from a formality into a reality as soon as possible. The parties must be focused on solving the problem, persist in advancing the denuclearization process on the peninsula and, at the same time, take concrete action to stop the military exercises and ease the sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Thirdly, the parties concerned must create favourable conditions and advocate for peace and talks, and the Security Council should play a constructive role in that regard and should not always condemn or exert pressure on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The Council’s deliberations should help to ease tensions and promote the de-escalation of the situation as soon as possible so as to leave room for diplomatic efforts rather than creating obstacles to that process. The draft resolution on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea jointly submitted by China and Russia in the Council would help ease the humanitarian situation in the country, create an atmosphere for dialogue and promote the realization of a political settlement. We hope that all parties will give positive consideration to it. As a close neighbour of the Korean peninsula, China is always committed to maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula, realizing its denuclearization, promoting the establishment of a peace mechanism there and resolving issues through dialogue and consultation. We once again call on the parties concerned to squarely face the central issue of the long-standing stalemate on the peninsula, focus on the greater good of peace and stability there, follow the dual-track approach and the principle of phased and synchronized action, resolve their respective concerns in a balanced manner through meaningful dialogue and promote the political settlement of the issue on the peninsula. China will continue to play a constructive role in that regard.

I would like to thank Ms. DiCarlo for her briefing. Since September, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has carried out multiple missile launches, which have been gradually increasing in frequency and range. In recent days, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has carried out launches of ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, which were followed by emergency alerts in the countries of the region. Those repeated launches constitute a clear escalation that threatens the peace and security of the Korean peninsula, fuels tensions and instability and raises the nuclear threat in the region to the highest level. My country strongly condemns this escalation, in complete violation of multiple relevant Security Council resolutions, and remains deeply concerned about the scope of the threat, especially as this escalation is accompanied by offensive discourse, which is devoid of any willingness to peace or détente or to return to dialogue. No country in the world should live under a permanent nuclear threat. That is why my country will not stop advocating for the outright prohibition of nuclear weapons, which constitute a threat to international security. We therefore call for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and reiterate our opposition to the use of nuclear weapons and any threat of the use thereof. Gabon calls on the stakeholders and countries with influence in the region to work towards the resumption of dialogue with a view to returning to the 2017 agreement, especially its moratorium on long-range missile launches. Gabon clearly and unequivocally reiterates its condemnation of nuclear testing and urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to renounce such testing. My country urges the parties to refrain from any threat or action that could exacerbate tensions on the Korean peninsula. We call on the Security Council to seek consensus and to work for appeasement and a return to dialogue with a view to finding a political solution to the crisis. In the face of the nuclear threat, the Council must remain unequivocally unified. Similarly, the Council must listen to the people of North Korea who continue to face an alarming humanitarian situation.

We thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing, and we welcome the delegations of Japan and the Republic of Korea to this meeting. Just two weeks ago, we met to discuss the launches by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of some 20 missiles, including one missile that fell in the Republic of Korea’s exclusive economic zone and the failed launch of yet another mission that was assessed to be of intercontinental range (see S/PV.9183). This morning, we heard again  — and confirmed, with great concern — the information that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea had launched a new intercontinental-range ballistic missile, which landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone. This latest launch adds to the dozens of launches of which we have been duly informed this year and against which the Council has been unable to send any signal. It seems to make no difference whether the Democratic People’s Republic is informed that there is an open debate or closed consultations. It is clear that the silence has also sent the wrong signal. The launches continue in open defiance of the Council, its prior resolutions, the entire multilateral system and the global non-proliferation regime. We echo the Secretary-General’s condemnation of this most recent launch and join him in his call for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to desist from any further provocative actions, comply fully with its international obligations and immediately return to the table and resume an inclusive dialogue. Through our participation in the Security Council, we have called several times on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to fully comply with its obligations, cooperate without delay with the International Atomic Energy Agency and resume political dialogue. Mexico reiterates its support for the Council’s resolutions to prevent the proliferation of nuclear and missile technology and appeals to all States to observe them scrupulously. On 4 November, the elected members of the Council jointly called on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to refrain from new launches, halt the development of its nuclear programme and resume dialogue. It is indeed necessary that the Council, in a united manner, make a clear statement: these launches are simply unacceptable and must stop now. Mexico will continue in the Security Council and all other multilateral forums to support the efforts of the international community to halt the development of nuclear technologies and capabilities for military purposes, support an atmosphere of respect and cooperation and promote confidence-building measures, in order to reach a diplomatic solution leading to the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing today. This is the second time we are meeting this month on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (see S/PV.9183). We condemn the recent launch of an intercontinental-range ballistic missile by the Democratic People’s Republic. This follows other ballistic-missile launches in the preceding months, following which the Security Council met. These launches constitute a violation of the resolutions of the Security Council relating to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. They affect the peace and security of the region and beyond. India calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions relating to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We would also like to again reiterate the importance of addressing the proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies related to the Democratic People’s Republic. Proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies is a matter of concern, as they have an adverse impact on peace and security in the region, including India. We hope that the international community and the Security Council can be united on this front. We reiterate our continued support for denuclearization towards peace and security on the Korean peninsula. Ensuring peace and security on the Korean peninsula is in our collective interest. Going forward, we will continue to support dialogue and diplomacy as the means to resolve the issues on the Korean peninsula.

I also thank Under- Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing, and I welcome the participation of the representatives of Japan and the Republic of Korea in this meeting. Kenya condemns the continued test-launching of intercontinental ballistic missiles by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in blatant violation of multiple Security Council resolutions. The unprecedented scale of missile launches this year, some of them intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching distant targets, constitutes a grave threat to peace and security of the region and the world at large. Even more concerning is the reported development of tactical nuclear weapons and preparations by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to carry out nuclear-missile tests imminently. The increasing frequency with which the launched missiles are affecting sovereign territories of the region, particularly Japan and the Republic of Korea, is alarming. This provocation is escalating at a dangerous rate and could, if not contained, plunge the region into turmoil, with far-reaching ramifications worldwide. The Korean peninsula has critical trading and investment linkages with Africa. Our own peace, security and stability are therefore endangered by the escalation on the Korean peninsula. Indeed, the last few months have taught us that actions that undermine international peace and security affect not only the immediate countries but also the distant ones. Consequently, Kenya reiterates its call for the immediate halting of any further provocative acts on the Korean peninsula and full compliance with relevant Security Council resolutions. We further call for unconditional and genuine dialogue that considers the concerns of all parties in the region. This is the only viable path out of this fragile situation. Kenya also urges the international community, particularly States that have influence on the region, to help restart diplomatic negotiations. It is disturbing that the provocative acts are happening against a backdrop of a deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We encourage the Democratic People’s Republic to prioritize the needs of its people over costly military ventures that threaten regional and international peace and security. Meanwhile, all other concerned parties should consider the humanitarian plight of citizens of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in all their actions to ensure that innocent populations do not suffer.

I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing. I welcome the delegations of Japan and the Republic of Korea to this meeting. The last time we were in this Chamber to discuss this file, we remarked on the relatively short period of time since our previous meeting (see S/PV.9183). A mere month had passed between the previous missile that had overflown Japan and the salvo of launches that brought us here at the beginning of November. Now the space of time has gotten even shorter — two weeks, to be precise — and we once again condemn in the strongest terms the repeated launches in violation of Security Council resolutions. Yet it seems clear to us that something needs to change. While condemning those missile launches is necessary and appropriate, we cannot fall into a cycle in which the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea conducts a major missile test every few weeks, after which we meet here to deliver our statements and then move on to other business. If we want to see progress on this issue, we must think critically about how to proceed. If the reports are correct, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has just done its first successful test of the Hwasong-17, its newest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). By all accounts, it is larger and more technologically advanced than its predecessors. The missile joins North Korea’s two other ICBMs, Hwasong-15 and Hwasong-14, in an increasingly sophisticated nuclear arsenal that can reach most of the world. We condemned that launch, as well as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s other ballistic-missile launches, in no uncertain terms. Yet we must also face an uncomfortable reality. All of North Korea’s intercontinental missile capabilities were developed when it was already one of the most sanctioned countries in the world. Resolution 2397 (2017), the last one we adopted on the file, in response to the Hwasong-15 launch in November 2017, introduced some of the harshest sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including via caps or bans on food and agricultural exports. None of that has prevented the prodigious expansion, quantitatively and qualitatively, of the North Korean arsenal over the past five years, culminating in this most recent test. It seems incontrovertible to us that while sanctions may be a part of a comprehensive approach to the issue, they are not the full answer. There can be no doubt that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s repeated missile launches pose a threat to the peace and security of the peninsula, the region and the world. There is also no doubt that it is the Council’s duty to act to reduce that threat and safeguard the security of all. But we must look to new and better tools to do so. We are an organ of diplomacy first and foremost. We believe that the first step to any progress on this file is the ability to speak with a single voice. Above all, we must make real efforts to achieve convergence among ourselves in order to find common denominators and bridge the gaps between our positions. That is how we have always worked in the Council, even in times of great division. It is not enough to agree to disagree. We must agree on what we can agree on and find the will to do more, not just through greater pressure but through a broad approach that takes into account the full complexity of the file. We all want a safer peninsula. We all want reduced risks. We all want more stability and predictability in the region, and we are all against nuclear proliferation. We have common ground. Let us build on it.

We thank Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under- Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, for her briefing. Russia is opposed to any military activity that threatens the security of the Korean peninsula and the countries of North-East Asia. However, we are once again becoming trapped in a vicious circle that is very familiar to us in the context of this issue. The United States and its allies in the region carry out large-scale exercises, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea reacts accordingly, and then we meet here to discuss it all. The problem with that logic is that with each new round, the positions of the parties and their actions become increasingly provocative and dangerous for international peace and security. In our opinion, the reason for the events is clear. It is Washington’s desire to compel Pyongyang into unilateral disarmament with the help of sanctions and forceful pressure. As part of their new concept of extended deterrence, the United States, the Republic of Korea and Japan have significantly increased their military training activities in the region. On the eve of the North Korean launch, the naval forces of the United States and South Korea conducted a training exercise for missile defence systems with the participation of destroyers. At the same time, they carried out exercises with the use of strategic bombers and a simulated strike on North Korean ballistic-missile installations. At the previous meeting of the Council on the matter (see S/PV.9183), we spoke in detail about other large-scale exercises that Washington and its allies conduct in the region. Irresponsible discussions continue at the leadership level of those countries on deploying United States deterrents, including nuclear deterrents, on the Korean peninsula and in the region. In that regard, it is obvious that Pyongyang’s missile launches are a consequence of the United States’ short- sighted, confrontational military activity in the region of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which is damaging both to its partners in the region and to the situation in North-East Asia as a whole. Moreover, the situation on the Korean peninsula cannot be considered in isolation from the complex processes that are taking place in that part of the world. We cannot ignore Washington’s increasingly aggressive promotion of its unilateral security doctrine in the Asia-Pacific region, which serves only to create artificial divisions in that part of the world. New military blocs are being formed, such as the alliance between the United States, Great Britain and Australia, which raises serious doubts about those States’ good intentions and does not help to establish dialogue. We deeply regret the fact that our Western colleagues have consistently ignored Pyongyang’s repeated calls for the United States to cease its hostile activities, which would create opportunities for dialogue. Pyongyang’s concessions in 2018 and 2019 and the positive signals that it sent were not taken into account. It is precisely because of the position of the United States that the Council was unable to marshal the strength to respond appropriately and facilitate a process of détente. We believe that the mechanisms of the United Nations, and the Security Council in particular, should be leveraged to support inter-Korean dialogue and multilateral negotiations rather than becoming an impediment to them. Only then will it be possible to discuss effective solutions to the problems that have accumulated in the region, including the nuclear issue, on the basis of mutually acceptable agreements. A further escalation of sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will go beyond measures to counter its prohibited missile and nuclear programmes and threaten North Korean citizens with unacceptable socioeconomic and humanitarian upheaval. The quest for a political and diplomatic solution is an integral part of the Security Council’s resolutions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Yet here in the Council we are once again limiting ourselves to talking about preventive diplomacy. We have not seen any real steps that go beyond promises on the part of Washington and other Western States to establish substantive dialogue with Pyongyang. We listened carefully to the statement made today by the representative of the United States, but we cannot expect miracles if it all comes down to the United States and its allies expanding military measures and threatening sanctions, policies that only threaten to create further tensions on the peninsula, which could lead to unpredictable and dangerous consequences for the entire North-East Asian region. In our view, there is only one alternative today — the need to ensure that all parties demonstrate restraint and reaffirm, in practice their readiness to renew dialogue, in line with previous agreements and commitments. The Russian-Chinese draft political and humanitarian resolution remains on the table, as do other initiatives of our countries that could truly encourage the parties to step up their negotiation efforts.

I also thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing and welcome the participation of the representatives of Japan and the Republic of Korea in today’s meeting. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea launched its eighth intercontinental ballistic missile in 2022, and it is reported to have fallen just 125 miles off the coast of Japan. This latest ballistic missile is assessed to have capabilities that put in grave danger not only the Korean peninsula but also many nations around the world, including those sitting around this table. We unequivocally condemn the actions of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which violate multiple Security Council resolutions. The country’s dangerous behaviour threatens our collective stability and prosperity. The unprecedented escalation in the country’s provocative actions and threats pose a challenge to the Council’s responsibility to maintain international peace and security. We remain deeply concerned that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea seems to be planning its seventh nuclear test. We once again call on it to refrain from conducting any further illegal tests, return to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, abandon all its nuclear-weapon and related missiles programmes, implement the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and fulfil its denuclearization obligations. Nuclear proliferation cannot guarantee the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea security and stability. On the contrary, the country’s determination to pursue it will exacerbate tensions and instability on the Korean peninsula and beyond. At a time where the global non-proliferation architecture is at a critical juncture, we call upon the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to abide by the Charter of the United Nations, international law and the relevant Security Council resolutions. It is high time to engage in diplomacy and dialogue, avoid further escalation and to make clear to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea the Council’s expectations in that regard, leading to a substantive dialogue among all parties. While the Security Council has crafted a stringent sanctions regime in order to prevent the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from developing its nuclear and ballistic capabilities, the country continues to evade sanctions to finance its prohibited activities. The new ways in which the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea resorts to funding its weapons arsenals have to give us pause. The Security Council’s sanctions regime should be able to effectively combat attempts by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to illegally smuggle weapons and components via the black market and to address cryptotheft activities. Council members should come together, including within the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution  1718 (2006), so that we can close those loopholes. We urge all Member States to fully comply with the 1718 sanctions regime and effectively prevent the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from continuing to evade sanctions. We see that the leaders of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continue to divert the country’s already scarce resources towards military capabilities rather than to the people’s urgent humanitarian and development needs. The humanitarian situation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea population remains a serious concern. The United Nations and other relief organizations, together with the international community, have expressed their willingness to cooperate with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in order to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of its people. We urge the country to respond to that outreach. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea framed this latest ballistic missile launch as a signal projecting strength. Instead, it projects escalation, instability and limited valuable resources channelled to fund military capabilities instead of addressing the desperate needs of the North Korean people. There is still time to change that trajectory. It is time for restraint, constructive engagement and genuine will to prioritize dialogue regarding the country’s nuclear programme. It is time for a clear message from the Council that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must comply with the relevant Security Council resolutions, in line with the call of the Secretary- General, and for a real dialogue to genuinely begin.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Ghana. I thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing to the Security Council and welcome the participation of the representatives of Japan and the Republic of Korea. The Council is meeting for the second time in three weeks in order to discuss a second launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The current ICBM launch, which is reported to be the new Hwasong-17 and described by some analysts as the most powerful yet to be launched by the country, comes on the heels of seven other ICBM launches and the launch of a barrage of over 70 ballistic and other missiles this year alone, all in clear violation of several Security Council resolutions. Ghana is gravely concerned about the continued breach by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of existing Security Council resolutions. We strongly urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to refrain from further ballistic missile launches and return to full compliance with the Charter of the United Nations, recent Security Council resolutions, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. We also reiterate our call for the Council to speak with one voice in urging all parties to work towards de-escalating tensions in the region and resuming constructive and credible dialogue. We hope that the Council and all relevant parties will be able to act in a swift manner in order to preserve the peace on the Korean peninsula and ensure the humanitarian needs of the people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of the Republic of Korea.

I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this urgent meeting of the Security Council. My gratitude also goes to Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing. The Republic of Korea condemns, in the strongest terms, the continued ballistic missile launches of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch on 18 November, which blatantly violates multiple Security Council resolutions. It is simply appalling to witness how the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, a United Nations State Member, can completely disregard international norms, including the Charter of the United Nations and the decisions of the Council. Just after the ICBM launch, Pyongyang’s State media announced that the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea observed the launch of its new type of ICBM and touted a pre-emptive nuclear strike as a purpose it could serve. That clearly demonstrates the deplorable reality that the North Korean regime persistently prioritizes its unlawful programme of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) at all costs, undermining the global non-proliferation regime, threatening international peace and security and neglecting the well-being and livelihood of its own people under the deteriorating humanitarian situation and ongoing self-imposed isolation. In addition, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea released a statement in its Foreign Minister’s name yesterday in an effort to justify its provocations and denounce the Secretary-General’s recent statement that condemned the country’s ICBM launch. By publicly mocking the Secretary-General as a puppet of the United States, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea once again highlighted its categorical refusal to respect the authority of the United Nations. We have witnessed how the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is fully taking advantage of the Council’s inaction and divisions to build up its nuclear arsenal. Since May, when the Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution (S/2022/431) because of the opposition of two permanent members (see S/PV.9048), the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has launched 40 ballistic missiles and promulgated its new law on nuclear-weapons policy, which set the threshold for using nuclear weapons far lower than any other country. Indeed, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has become increasingly aggressive and dangerous. Moreover, it now stands on the verge of its seventh nuclear test. The most recent Security Council resolution on this issue, resolution 2397 (2017), adopted unanimously in 2017, explicitly decided to take action in order to restrict further the export of petroleum to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the event of the country’s launch of an ICBM. In that vein, it is most regrettable that the Security Council failed to implement its own commitment witnessing Pyongyang’s eight ICBM test launches this year. It is time for the Security Council to respond, in a robust and united manner, to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s reckless nuclear ambition. If the Council does not respond firmly to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s continued illegal behaviour, it will inevitably lead to more Member States deliberately ignoring their obligations under Security Council resolutions. In that context, the Republic of Korea duly requests that all Council members support the swift adoption of the draft presidential statement proposed by the United States. It would be the minimum action expected by the international community in the light of the innumerable rounds of provocations by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that endanger the world. In the meantime, the existing Security Council sanctions must be fully and faithfully implemented by all United Nations Member States, especially Security Council members. That may be the only way not only to impede the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s unlawful WMD pursuits, but also to pressure Pyongyang to reconsider its ill-advised behaviour and return to diplomacy. Moreover, that is an obligation conferred upon us all by the Charter of the United Nations. Let me be clear once again: there should be no excuses for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s recent unlawful provocations. The combined military exercises by the Republic of Korea and the United States, which have long been conducted on a regular basis and are defensive in nature, can never be an excuse for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s illicit nuclear and missile development. Speaking for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is neither constructive nor responsible and only emboldens the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to persist in choosing the wrong path. Lastly, we reiterate our commitment to engaging in serious dialogue with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea without any preconditions and strongly urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to respond positively to our offer. We owe it to future generations and to our children in Korea to pass on a peaceful denuclearized Korean peninsula, not dangerous nuclear weapons.

I now give the floor to the representative of Japan.

I wish to thank Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing. Since the beginning of this year, North Korea has repeatedly and persistently conducted more missile launches, including different types of launches, at a higher frequency than ever before. Not only has the number of missiles increased, but so has the threat level. In just the past two months, we have witnessed unlawful missile launches, including one that flew over Japan for the first time in five years and one that impacted near the Republic of Korea’s territorial waters. This time, North Korea again launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)-class missile, which impacted in the Japanese exclusive economic zone, just 200 km from Hokkaido. That is a clear escalation, which is unacceptable and unlawful. Japan strongly condemns the launch and echoes and supports the message of the Secretary-General in that regard. Let me make three points. First, those missile launches not only pose an imminent and grave threat to Japan’s security, but also endanger all people in the region. They endanger vessels and expose aircraft in the surrounding area to great safety risk. No one can be assured of a safe life in the face of such continuously destabilizing conduct. This is a serious threat, not only for Japan and the Republic of Korea, but for the entire region and beyond. Secondly, let me point out another unacceptable aspect of the most recent launch. The ICBM-class ballistic missile flew an estimated 1,000 km, with an apogee of an estimated 6,000 km. At the same time, however, calculations based on the flight trajectory indicate that the estimated capable range of the missile could exceed 15,000 km. In that case, all of Asia, Europe, North America, including New York, and Africa and even part of South America would be within range of that delivery system of unlawful nuclear warheads. Let me repeat that the threat goes well beyond the region. It is outrageous to allow North Korea to take the entire international community hostage. Thirdly and lastly, I must once again stress the crucial need for the Council to firmly stand against this serious challenge to international peace and security, as well as to its own credibility. The Council unanimously adopted resolution 2397 (2017), whereby it decided to take action if North Korea were to launch an ICBM or conduct a nuclear test. I have already stated several times in this Chamber that we must not allow the current situation to become a new normal. The Charter of the United Nations is clear. All Member States have agreed to carry out the decisions of the Security Council. Violations should not go unchecked. There are no smaller or larger violations. I do not believe that the Council should tolerate ballistic missile launches and wait for a nuclear test before finally taking action. It is the unified determination of all Council members never to allow a nuclear North Korea with ballistic missile capabilities. That should remain ironclad, irrespective of Council members’ bilateral relations with North Korea. Now is the time for the Council to reaffirm that commitment by sending a unified message. The draft presidential statement proposed by the United States is a step forward while we wait for stronger, more robust actions to be adopted. In conclusion, Japan urges North Korea to immediately and fully comply with all relevant resolutions, to engage in diplomacy towards denuclearization and to accept the repeated offers of dialogue. Japan also urges all Member States to fully implement the relevant resolutions and cooperate with the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006). Japan reiterates its sincere and strong expectation that the Council will fulfil its responsibility by taking resolute action.