The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Alok Sharma)
I would like to update the House on recent developments regarding the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the international response and what actions the Government are taking.
The Government remain deeply concerned by North Korea’s continued development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. This year we have seen two nuclear tests from North Korea, and an unprecedented number of ballistic missile launches. These actions have been accompanied by threatening rhetoric, and the continued prioritisation of the weapons programme over the well-being and needs of the North Korean people.
On 14 September, I informed the House that the UN Security Council had agreed that North Korea’s fifth nuclear test on 9 September was a clear violation of existing Security Council resolutions, and that there would be a robust response.
On 30 November, the UN Security Council adopted Security Council resolution 2321, a package of new, stronger measures to deter and challenge North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. This resolution builds on the provisions of UN Security Council resolutions 1718, 1874, 2087, 2094 and 2270.
Significant measures in the new resolution are designed to constrain and disrupt the DPRK’s nuclear intentions. The new cap on coal exports, with a UN oversight mechanism, will directly affect the DPRK’s ability to raise foreign currency for their nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. This is estimated to reduce DPRK foreign trade income by $700 million, and when combined with a metals export ban, will cut DPRK trade income by a quarter.
The resolution tightens existing measures, and enhances controls on technology imports, on shipping, and on banking, as well as demonstrating a new resolve to disrupt any abuse of diplomatic privileges. This will send a strong signal as well as have important practical effects. This text, in addition to the UN Third Committee resolution on DPRK human rights adopted on 15 November, makes clear the explicit link between the DPRK’s proliferation choices and their shameful treatment of their own people. The United Kingdom has worked closely with P5 partners throughout the development of UNSCR 2321, and will be at the forefront of the discussion amongst EU member states as we transpose the UNSCR swiftly into EU law.
Both I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs have spoken with counterparts regarding the increasingly belligerent and dangerous behaviour of the DPRK. The threat posed by the DPRK’s programmes to both regional and international security will continue to be at the forefront of our work.
As the United Kingdom has done on many occasions, we continue to urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to return to credible and authentic multilateral talks on its nuclear programme. We ask it to abide by its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and to permit full access by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
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