North Korea/DPRK: Statement by the High Representative

The European Union (EU) strongly condemns the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on 15 March, which followed its launch of short-range missiles.

These illegal and dangerous actions all constitute blatant violations of UN Security Council resolutions that threaten international peace and security.

The EU reiterates that the DPRK must comply immediately with its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions by abandoning all its nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missile programmes and existing nuclear programmes, in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner and cease all related activities. This is the only viable route to sustainable peace and security on the Korean peninsula. The DPRK cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear weapon state under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or any other special status in that regard. The EU urges the DPRK to return immediately to full compliance with the NPT and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards and to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The DPRK’s use of resources to support its unlawful weapons programme exacerbates the humanitarian situation of its population.

The EU calls upon the international community to respond in a united and firm manner to uphold the international non-proliferation architecture and to prevent the DPRK from further escalating military tensions in the region. It is critical that all UN Member States, especially Members of the UN Security Council, ensure the full implementation of UN sanctions and urge the DPRK to resume meaningful dialogue with the main parties.

The EU expresses its full solidarity with Japan and the Republic of Korea. The EU is ready to work with all relevant partners in promoting a meaningful diplomatic process aimed at building sustainable peace and security through the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.