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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Mar 2003

Written Answers - Nuclear Weapons.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

130 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the current situation in North Korea. [6534/03]

The current crisis began in October 2002, when the US presented North Korea with evidence that it was enriching uranium with a view to developing nuclear weapons. This placed North Korea in violation of international agreements including the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, the North-South Declaration on the Denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and the 1994 agreed framework.

On 10 January this year, I issued a statement noting with great regret North Korea's announcement that it was withdrawing from the non-proliferation treaty. Since then the Government's concern has been heightened by the increasingly serious actions that have been taken by the DPRK.

As a recent example, we view as extremely serious last week's reports that North Korea has restarted a nuclear reactor which had been closed since the resolution of the last crisis in 1994. Developments such as these are damaging to the vitally important multilateral system of non-proliferation and could also have serious consequences for regional stability.

On 12 February 2003 the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, decided to refer the question of North Korea's non-compliance with its international non-proliferation obligations to the United Nations Security Council. The Government fully supports this decision and we agree that discussion of the matter at the Security Council is warranted owing to the gravity of the situation.

On 20 February 2003 the Security Council held an initial discussion about this matter and decided that SECCO experts on North Korea should meet to consider further how the issue can be taken forward in order to ensure that the non-proliferation regime is respected and that peace and security in the region is protected.

The Government is consulting with our EU partners and countries in the region that are seriously concerned by the developments in North Korea. At the General Affairs and External Relations Council in January 2003, Ireland, together with our EU partners, agreed on the principle of sending a high-level EU delegation to Pyongyang.

However, difficulties relating to the level at which the delegation would be received, and conditions laid down by the North Koreans, have so far prevented this delegation from going to Pyongyang. In the Government's view, an EU visit, if it takes place, should focus on the need for the DPRK to fulfil its international non-proliferation obligations. The Government does not consider that this matter is solely a bilateral issue with the United States, as characterised by the Pyongyang Government. On the contrary, we regard it as a matter which affects the international community and thus one which demands a multilateral solution. We remain sensitive however to the need to avoid exacerbating an already tense situation and will continue to consult with our European Union partners, as well as the US and the Republic of Korea, on how this matter might be peacefully resolved.
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