Statements
05. March 2013
Agenda Item 5(B): Application of Safeguards in the Democratic People's Republic Korea
Chairperson,
South Africa strongly condemns the latest nuclear test carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The test is a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions calling on the DPRK not to conduct any further nuclear tests.
South Africa has consistently urged the DPRK to fully and verifiably terminate any nuclear weapons programme, to refrain from further nuclear tests or any launch using ballistic missile technology. South Africa has further called upon the DPRK to return to and to come into full compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
My delegation regrets the lack of progress on the IAEA’s verification mandate in the DPRK and that since April 2009 the Agency has not been in a position to carry out its monitoring and verification activities as per the DPRK’s Safeguards Agreement with the Agency. South Africa believes that it is important that the DPRK places all its nuclear facilities and materials under comprehensive IAEA safeguards.
Chairperson,
Following the announcement by the DPRK that it recently carried out a nuclear test, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, stated that “South Africa believes that it is a prerequisite for peace and security in the region that the DPRK, as a confidence building measure, verifiably proves to the international community that it has permanently and fully dismantled any nuclear weapons. South Africa continues to urge all parties involved to avoid any actions that could exacerbate the volatile situation in the region.”
I thank you.