Stakeout of EU Members on DPRK

Statement

Ireland, Estonia and France are deeply concerned by the reported test of a submarine launched ballistic missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on October 18^th. We firmly condemn this provocative action which constitutes a clear violation of the UN Security Council resolutions.

We welcome today’s discussion at the Security Council, and the Council’s continued attention to the DPRK’s ongoing nuclear and missile activities, and other WMD programmes, which represent a serious threat to regional and international peace and security.

Monday’s launch forms part of a pattern of provocations by the DPRK. In recent weeks, it has conducted a series of launches, including of short-range ballistic missiles, long-range cruise missiles, and what it has claimed to be a hypersonic glider. This new SLBM launch underlines the continued enhancement of the nuclear and ballistic program of the DPRK, which stated its ambition to ultimately acquire sea-based nuclear capabilities. The panel of experts working on the DPRK has continuously highlighted these efforts.

We urge the DPRK to comply fully with its obligations under Security Council Resolutions.  The DPRK must immediately end its destabilising actions, and take concrete steps to abandon its ballistic missile, other WMD, and nuclear programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.

These launches clearly demonstrate the need for the full and effective implementation of UN sanctions, as well as the urgent need to address sanctions evasion by the DPRK. We call on the international community to comply with the obligation to strictly enforce these sanctions, including by reporting on their implementation in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Council.

We continue to urge the DPRK to engage meaningfully with the US and Republic of Korea’s repeated offers of dialogue, towards achieving lasting peace, security and stability on the Korean Peninsula, as well as in the wider region.

There is no other way to achieve peace, security and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

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