I thank ASG Khaled Khiari for his useful briefing and I welcome the presence of the representatives from Korea and Japan in the council.
Norway strongly condemns ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea- including most recently on 4 and 7 May.
We are deeply concerned by the growing capabilities demonstrated by the intensive pattern of these launches. The continued development of nuclear weapons, and ballistic missiles by the DPRK is a direct threat to regional and international peace and security. And violates several UN Security Council resolutions.
The Final Report by the Panel of Experts shows the DPRK’s high level and sustained commitment to developing its ballistic missile programme.
Central to the DPRK’s ability to act on this resolve, is their ability to fund and procure materials and technology for their illegal WMD programmes- including through cyber means.
This Council has a responsibility to consider appropriate actions.
We continue to urge the government of the DPRK to comply fully with its international obligations, reverse its course, and rejoin the international non-proliferation regime through the NPT and IAEA safeguards.
The current path is not only a threat to regional and international peace and security, but it also aggravates an already deteriorating economic, humanitarian, and human rights situation in the country.
We are profoundly discouraged to see that the government continues to channel its resources to weapons development, instead of housing, food, and vaccines much needed by its own people.
We call on the DPRK to end its self-imposed blockade and allow the UN, its resident coordinator, and other international organizations, to re-enter the country and resume their humanitarian work.
We also call on the DPRK to respond to repeated offers of dialogue, and to take concrete steps to abandon its WMD and ballistic missile programmes in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.
Now more than ever, we need this Council to show unity.
In 2017, a united Council “expressed its determination to take further significant measures in the event of a further DPRK nuclear test or launch”.
We therefore welcome the US’ efforts to address the DPRK’s continued violations.