Non-proliferation/Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Security Council, 10147th meeting
🇫🇷 France, 🇷🇺 Russian Federation, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇰🇵 Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇰🇷 Republic of Korea, 🇨🇳 China
Merci Monsieur le Président. Thank you, Mr. President. I will be very brief and I wish to respond to the observations made by the Russian representative uh concerning our Deterrence. I would like to state three points. First of all, these remarks are emanating from a country which has several thousand uh strategic warheads. And several thousand tactical war nuclear warheads. It's the only country in the world with an arsenal in specifically in the tactical area in uh of of that magnitude, particularly in the context of the arms race. And this is also emanating from a country whose president has threatened nuclear war as part of the new illegal war which it is has been uh waging against Ukraine for years now, in a completely reckless and irresponsible way. And this is emanating from a country which has allowed itself to engage in uh with allowed allegations about supposed uh arms arms transfers from us to Ukraine, which was very formally uh rebuffed. And I would like to recommend that the Russian Federation Specifically vis-a-vis the DPRK and Iran for them to adopt a stature which is in accordance with Security Council resolutions concerning nonproliferation. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to note that Western countries, including France, have over the course of all of these years have been funneling various uh forms of weapons into Ukraine, including missiles. The level of escalation has now been uh uh exceeding all imaginable levels insofar as they need at all costs to deter to maintain Ukraine at the position of a viable geopolitical uh battering ram that is capable of. Inflicting with comprehensive Western support inflicting significant damage to the security of the Russian Federation. In this vein, as you rightly mentioned, we are particularly concerned by the fact that the Russian Special Services received information, intelligence received information that London and Paris are considering the possibility of transfer to Kiev of elements of nuclear weapons. We are not surprised at the fact that you have taken this opportunity and you are re repudiating this information. It would be difficult to imagine any other response. However uh the members of the international community do need to understand that these countries clearly, London and Paris, clearly have an opportun have a opportunity, motivation and the means to carry out such a crime. Thank you for your attention.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. I didn't want to get into this back and forth, but um, since allegations have been made, I wanted to make clear that as the United Kingdom and France clearly stated in our letter to the Security Council on the 27th of February, we are not providing and would not provide nuclear weapons or related capabilities to Ukraine. Both our countries remain fully committed to our obligations under the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. President. At today's meeting called at the request of the United States and the certain UN Member States is no more than memorial service for seven eight committee panel of exports. Those mandates were terminated two years ago by the fair judgment of history. The United Nations is already piled high with pressing issues awaiting its immediate action. Just at this time, Such a meaningless meeting as a convene. This clearly shows the current address of the UN Security Council, which advances to high handed and arbitrary tunes of a hegemonical state. I condemn in the strongest terms UN Security Council for convening another unreasonable meeting aimed at justifying its illegal sanction and pressure against DPRK. The 1780 Committee Panel Exports is a politically motivated conspiracy group to the call the Serbian United States hostile policy to the DPRK. It has deceived and played on the international community by spreading all sorts of false information and misleading public opinion. The panel quite deserved to be given the judgment of disbandment for its nature. As the instrument of the hegemony of the United States and the West in their bid to deprive sovereign states of her rights to existence and development. As for UN Security Council's anction resolution against the DPRK, they are a legal document running counter to principles of sovereign equality and respect for right to self defense. We just stipulated in the UN Charter, we will neither recognize nor be bound at all by those resolutions which deny our state legitimate right to self defense. The United States is now expanding and strengthening its extended deterrence and military alliance system while pushing ahead with the hegemonic India Pacific strategy in the Asia Pacific region, including the Korean Peninsula. In pursuit of the blood confrontation and a new Cold War, the United States, Japan, and ROK continue military drills with the use of the nuke as established fact. Under such circumstances, the United States is showing elbowing booths from last year, expanding the operational theater of the US troops in ROK. In the more offensive way to include neighboring countries and keeping allied to the ROK's position of the nuclear submarine. We owe it to strong self-defense water currents built by the DPRK that peace and security peninsula are being maintained despite the grave geopolitical landscape of today. The world is now returning to the era of the Chungul law. At the nose of the Niger International Law. No international relations order following the gangstrick. Power is justice. Declaring no need for international law, the United States remained unhesitant about armed invasion and terrorist act against sovereign states. Its indiscriminate and unilateral cohesive measures have weaked unprecedented habak on international economic relations. However, United Nations is yet to publish a statement of the concern, let alone take immediate actions to address global security and political economic crisis caused by high handed and arbitrary practice of the United States. Instead, it has played into the latter's hands and questioned legitimate exercise of the sovereign right of sovereign state. Today's meeting is a strike example of the status cure. Of dysfunctional United Nations that has to fail and its mission enshrined in the UN Charter. If UN Security Council is to regain its reputation as an organization of ensuring international peace and security, it should not be questioning sovereign country on the exercise of her legitimate right, but should be focusing on its mission basket by UN Charter. On the principle of impartiality, objectivity, and equity. The DPRK will, as ever, continue to exercise her just and legitimate sovereign right to cope with all sorts of the challenges and threats posed by hostile forces. I thank you.
Thank you, Mr. President, for convening this critically important meeting. I also thank USG Degaro and Mr. Byrne, the CEO and founder of the Open Source Center for their respective important and very alarming briefings. At the outset, let me express once again our deepest regret that the panel of experts which have been playing a critical role in monitoring the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. Was forced to terminate its vital activities due to Russia's veto two years ago. I would like to take this opportunity to make three points. First, we have seen a series of intensive launches of ballistic missiles by North Korea, including this month. These launches will help advance its ballistic missile technology to enhance the capacity of carrying WMD. Including nuclear warheads, and to achieve practical operational capabilities such as the ability to break through missile defenses. These developments pose grave threats not only to neighboring countries in the region, but to international non proliferation regime. Furthermore, we have to address its malicious cyber activities, which fund its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Second, We also have to keep in mind what is happening behind these provocations. Russia, a permanent member of this Council, is engaged in military cooperation with the DPRK, receiving assistance for its unprovoked aggression against Ukraine in violation of the UN Charter, and in exchange, backing Pyongyang's behavior. Any transfer from the DPRK of assistance related to missiles is clearly prohibited in the Security Council resolutions that Russia itself supported. The international community cannot just remain silent. It is on the shoulders of the UN member states to take action and guard the relevance of this Council. Third, we have to prevent water from leaking from the bottle as sanctions regimes against North Korea cannot be effective with loopholes. In this context, Japan is ready to cooperate with all concerned member states to prevent any loopholes. Through raising awareness and strengthening monitoring. As to raising awareness, we have conducted a regional workshop on the deceptive vessel behavior at sea for maritime agencies in Southeast Asia in cooperation with UNODC, as well as a maritime industry symposium on countering North Korea's illicit maritime activities. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with the UN and member states to this end. As to strengthening monitoring, even though the panel of expats no longer exists, we must all remain vigilant in complying with this Council's sanctions measures, and we call on all Member States to make individual or multilateral efforts to support implementation. The multilateral sanctions monitoring team is one such effort, and its activities are in line with the relevant Security Council resolutions. For example, the Resolution 2397 calls upon all Member States to cooperate with each other, particularly with respect to detecting items, the transfer of which is prohibited by the resolution. Japan looks forward to the forthcoming third MSMT report and is ready to share the information therein with fellow member states once it is available. Mr. President, this week marked the beginning of the NPT Review Conference. DPRK's unlawful nuclear and missile activities are fragrantly challenging the credibility and integrity of the NPT. Japan believes the review conferences should send a robust message to North Korea and calls on the DPRK to respond to the international community call for dialogue. I'd like to uh reiterate Japan's strong com commitment to a world without nuclear weapons. Some members member states in the Council today touched on the Japan's defense policy. I'd like to clarify a couple of points. First, with regard to the joint exercise participated by Japan, North Korea's I would like to point out that North Korea's nuclear and missile development is a clear violation of a series of UN Security Council resolutions that decide North Korea's abandonment. Of its own nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. It is erroneous to equate such a violation of the Security Council resolutions with Japan USROK joint exercises, which are completely lawful under international law. Not only Japan, but also the international community, including US and ROK, has repeatedly called on DPRK to engage in dialogue. The essence of this program lies in North Korea's refusal to respond to these calls and its continued advancement in nuclear and missile development, thereby posing a threat to the regional security. Some countries touched on the Japan's so-called three non nuclear principles. The government of Japan observed three non-clear principles as policy guidelines. Japan, as a staunch supporter of the MPT, has been advocating for the implementation of all its provisions. This includes compliance with its own obligations under the NPT. Japan, as the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings in war, will continue to work closely with the international community to realize a world without nuclear weapons. We will continue to advance realistic and practical efforts to maintain and strengthen the NPT regime. There was a reference to our extended deterrence uh strategy. The real issues lies with the lack of progress in nuclear disarmament and the continued increase of nuclear capabilities without enhancing transparency. We need to rec recognize this reality. Based on that, we while security threats to Japan, including those by nuclear weapons, are present, extended nuclear deterrence is necessary in order to address these threats. This policy serves defensive purposes to deter aggression and maintain peace and stability for Japan and the region. It is fully consistent with the NPT obligations. Finally, I would like to touch on the Japan's approach to Japan's basic approach to the uh in our defense policy. The Japan will continue its path as a peace-loving nation, a path it has followed since World War II. Japan's constant contributions to international peace and stability are widely recognized, and Japan will continue to such contributions as a responsible member of the international community. The Japan has firmly upheld the purposes of principle of the UN Charter and championed the rule of law. Japan accepts peaceful settlements based on international law under the statute of the International Court of Justice and Ankros. and opposes to unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. These are the principles of our uh defense and uh diplomatic uh policy and I'd like to uh uh reiterate these principles. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. President. At the outset, I express my sincere appreciation to the President for convening today's meeting. I also thank Under Secretary General Rosemary DiGarlo and Mr. James Burne for their comprehensive and substantive briefings. It has been nearly one year since the Council last convened the briefing on the DPRK, marking the first anniversary of the dissolution of the panel of experts of the 1718 Committee. While informal consultations have continued regularly, we highlight a notable decline in formal council meetings under the DPLK non proliferation agenda. Regrettably, however, this does not reflect any progress in the denucalization of the Korean Peninsula. On the contrary, As underscored at the ongoing MPT review conference, the international community continues to urge the DPRK to cease its nuclear and missile activities in line with this Council's resolution. Indeed, in defiance of its international obligation, the DPRK has persistently developed its nuclear and missile programs. Furthermore, as underscored at its recent ninth party congress, it now asserts itself as a nuclear weapon state. A status the international community cannot and will not accept. This year alone, Pengyang has conducted six rounds of ballistic missile launches in clear violation of Security Council resolutions, including three just this month. Most recently, it tested SRBMs equipped with cluster munitions warheads, posing an overt threat to the Korean peninsula and beyond. Mr. President, Compliance with international law, including the full implementation of Security Council resolutions, remains the essential foundation for addressing this situation. However, the present reality falls short of this imperative. In addition, the dissolution of the panel of experts following Russia's decision to biddle the extension of the panel's mandate in March 2024 has significantly weakened the Council's collective monitoring and enforcement capacity. In response, some member states, including the Republic Korea, have sought to bridge these gaps through voluntary mechanisms such as the multilateral sanctions monitoring team. Also, while proposals were made last year to designate additional vessels involved in sanctions violations, it is noted that the 1718 Committee has not been able to reach a decision on any additional designations on vessels since 2018. Some might argue that sanctions have failed to prevent DPRK from developing nuclear weapons. However, it is undeniable that these measures adopted unanimously by this Council have slowed its progress by constraining financing and access to key resources. Ultimately, the effectiveness of sanctions depends on how faithfully and universally they are implemented by member states. We must guard against any attempts to exploit rule or weakening existing. Measures. It is neglectful that Pyongyang has still not allowed the return of UN agencies and continue to refuse most humanitarian assistance from the international community, which has made significant contributions to improving the livelihood of North Korean people. We hope to see that the well functioning humanitarian exemption mechanism in the 1718 committee. We lead to increased and transparent humanitarian activity in the DPRK. Mr. President, against this challenging backdrop, allow me to highlight two key elements of my government's policy toward the DPRK. First, our commitment to peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. Since the inauguration of the XMYang administration last year, the Republic Korea has consistently pursued a vision of peaceful peninsula. Built on reconciliation and cooperation rather than built on hostility and confrontation. While Pengyang cites so called hostile policies toward the ROK to justify its nuclear armament, we remain committed to respecting the DPRK system, pursuing neither hostility nor unification by absorption. In this spirit, The Republic Korea has taken proactive steps to reduce tensions and build trust with DPRK, including dismantling loudspeaker broadcasting systems along the military demarcation line. Second, our unwavering commitment to nuclearization. The international community reaffirmed once again at the MPT Review Conference that the DPLK cannot have the status of nuclear weapon state. In accordance with NPT. We recall that the permanent members of this Council bear a special responsibility as nuclear weapon states under the NPT, and we coron them to faithfully uphold the MPT in light to DPRK nuclear issue. Abandoning the goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would lead to serious adverse implications for both regional and Global non-proliferation efforts. In this regard, the Republic of Korea is taking a pragmatic and faced approach to North Korean nuclear issue. Recognizing current realities, we are pursuing a step by step progress toward the nuclearization that begins with stopping TPRK's nuclear and missile programs through dialogue and negotiation. Followed by reduction and ultimately complete dismantlement. Let me take this opportunity to also reiterate the Republic of Korea remains fully committed to fulfilling its obligation under the MPT. As our poly minister underscored recently in, non proliferation is our strategic imperative, as no country can guarantee its security or well being of its people solely through nuclear weapons. North Korea itself stands as the clearest proof of this fact. Mr. President, despite the absence of reciprocal engagement from Pyongyang, we remain committed to a peaceful diplomatic solution as stipulated in the relevant Security Council resolutions, and will continue to act with patience and reserve to this aim. In closing, the Republic Korea calls on all Council members to unite and take concerted action to bring DPRK back to the negotiating table. We also urge the DPRK to reciprocate our sincere efforts toward reconciliation, cooperation, and meaningful dialogue, and fulfill its obligation under international law as a responsible member of the international community. I thank you. Yeah.
Thank you, President. The Chinese delegation did not intend to make a further statement at this meeting. However, in light of the pale justification made by the Representative of Japan with regard to its intention to possess nuclear weapons, we are of the view that it is necessary to make a further statement on this issue. According to Cairo Declaration, Potsbrand uh uh proclamation and the uh the uh capitulation letter of Japan of the Second World War, as well as other instruments that have international legal effect. Japan should be completely disarmed. Japan is not allowed to maintain any industries that will allow its re militarization. This of course includes the fact that uh the repossession of nuclear the possession of nuclear weapons by Japan is strictly prohibited. Japan Is a non-nuclear weapon state party to the NPT. Japan is obliged under MPT not to possess, manufacture, uh, or produce nuclear weapons. This is an international obligation of Japan. The status quo is that Japan is widely known by the international community as a nuclear threshold state. Japan possesses Post-processing technologies, reprocessing technologies. Japan is capable of obtaining weapons grade plutonium. Japan has uh operational reprocessing uh f facilities. For a very for a very long time, Japan has been manufacturing and uh stockpiling uh nuclear materials that far exceed its need for civilian purposes. uh the uh a maintaining a stockpile of plutonium that far exceeds civilian purposes, uh which means that in a very short time window Japan will be capable of breakthrough the nuclear threshold. At the same time, over the recent years, on the question of nuclear weapons, Japan has made uh many negative statements over the recent years. Japanese officials, government officials, openly discussed The possibility of r uh amending the three non-nuclear principles. In November 2025, Japanese Prime Minister at her statement at the Diet of Japan indicated that it was not possible to confirm whether uh the non the three non nuclear principles would remain unchanged in the process of uh amending the defense policy of Japan. This is a fact. In December 2025, a senior official of the office of the Prime Minister openly suggested that Japan should possess nuclear weapons. This statement was also a fact. Those remarks exposed the nuclear ambition of the right wing forces of Japan, which is uh in defiance of the red line set by the international community. I believe. If the Japan is committed as it claims to the path of uh to the to the peaceful path, then Japan should uh use history as a mirror. Japan should make a clear severance from the new type of militarism and uphold its peace constitution and the MPT. Japan should cease uh its uh efforts and intentions with regard to remilitarization and the uh the ambition to possess nuclear weapons. Japan has made many negative uh statements with regard to nuclear weapons, which caused serious concern from China and other members of the international communities. The Japanese government should make clarifications uh uh in a formal manner and at the highest level of its uh leadership. Only by doing so, Japan will be able to address the concerns of the international community. Thank you, President.
Thank you Mr President I was uh stun I was amazed by the uh uh the uh The remarks just made by the representative of China. Today, first of all, I I think that many of the member states here still remember that in my intervention I clearly mentioned that Japan will uh the will be in full compliant compliance of NPT. And also Japan observes our three non nuclear principles as policy guidelines. I made it very clear. But uh I listened to the uh intervention by the presentative of China. That is a totally I I I don't think that his remarks did not uh based on was not based on the um uh my today's remarks, as well as our fundamental policies, defense policy of Japan. So totally unfounded and uh very misleading. So I just want to mention a couple of points. First of all with regard to our nuclear policy, the government of Japan observes three non nuclear principles of policy guidelines. Japan is a staunch supporter of the NPT, has been advocating for the implementation of all its provisions. This includes compliance with our own obligations under the NPT. That is uh one point. And uh also it uh China referred to the uh our the possession of uh plutonium and the usage of this plutonium. Japan has been limited uh Japan has been limiting its research, development, and use of nuclear energy exclusively for peaceful purposes under the Atomic Energy Basic Act. Therefore, such today's claims are baseless. Moreover, all nuclear materials in Japan, including plutonium, are subject to exceptionally stringent IAEA safeguards, as evidenced by verification mechanisms. The area subject to inspection and its frequency. As a result, the IAEA has been drawing the conclusion that all materials remain in peaceful activities. Japan continues to uphold the principle of non possessing plutonium without specific purposes. and uses most of its plutonium stockpile for nuclear fuel or power plants, with the remaining amount used as a material for peaceful nuclear research. Also Japan has declared the policy to reduce the amount of plutonium stockpile in 2018, and the amount has decreased since then. Under the policy, Japan will continue to take appropriate measures. Moreover, As on voluntary measures, Japan has secured the transparency of its nuclear material through its efforts, such as publishing information on its pre-the-management, which is more detailed than the one required in the international guidance. And also the representative of China uh touched on our kind of you know the uh the course, the path the uh my nation is uh following. But I'd like to counter argue with the following uh by uh pointing out the following fact. China has continuously increased its defense budget at a high level with a lack of transparency twenty seven fold over the past thirty years. Also, China has unilaterally expanded its arsenal, including ballistic missiles, and furthermore, it exports arms at a rate more than 400 times that of Japan. We are also concerned about the rapid and significant increase of nuclear arsenals in a non-transparent manner. Japan's fundamental defense policy is a posture of passive defense strategy, which is exclusively defense oriented. Therefore, we consider that China is in no position to criticize Japan for its defense stance, and it's outrageous to mention that our militarism is totally unfounded. Thank you.
And thank you, Mr. President. I'm taking flaw the comments, the remark made by the Japanese delegation. As I mentioned in my statement, The United States, Japan, and ROK continue military deal with use of the nuke. It is a real fact. And then we know that Japan is on the list of UN charters as a terms of the enemy state. Japan, as you know, is a class criminal state that invaded many Asian countries, including TPRK, in the past century. During The colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, Japan committed crime against humanity, such as forcible abduction of the 8 million of the Korean people, mascot of the 1 million, and sexual leverage to 100,000 Korean women and gold for the Japanese army. But Japan beautified the history of the aggression instead of the Shinji apology. A Shinji apology is the first step to acknowledge wrongdoing in the past and promise that crime not to be repeated. But Japan did fine, has history of the aggression, and is now moving towards the military power by revising so called peace constitution. So it is mockery that they like country Japan sitting here and talk about non proliferation and international peace and security. I thank you.
Verbatim from the transcript. A reply is identified from its own words, the Chair's grant, or its place in the right-of-reply sequence; delegations and addressees follow the transcript's attribution.